When the dust settled on the NFL's annual trade deadline on Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers were one of just two teams (the Cincinnati Bengals being the other, ironically) with six or more wins not to make a trade. After weeks of rumors surrounding potential targets, primarily at wide receiver, fans were ultimately left empty-handed by general manager Omar Khan.
Fans and media alike were quick to criticize the franchise for failing to upgrade the roster in an effort to help quarterback Aaron Rodgers make the most of his final NFL season, and I can understand why. With injuries to Roman Wilson and Michael Pittman Jr., and poor play from DK Metcalf, adding a starting-caliber player to that unit could change the complexion of the offense.
Take a step back, however, and really think about it. Unless you could convince a team like the Jets, Saints, or Eagles to part ways with a true difference-maker like Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, or DeVonta Smith, what kind of impact would they really get from the receivers who may have been available? The reality is that despite their 6-2 record to start the season, the Steelers are still stuck in the middle of the NFL hierarchy, and adding one solid receiver wasn't going to change that.
The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't fail Aaron Rodgers, or anyone else, at the trade deadline
Don't get me wrong: I think this year's Steelers team is better equipped to finally break their decade-long playoff drought than any since at least the 2020 team that started 11-0. Even that team lacked the identity that the 2026 squad has established as a dominant rushing offense and equally great run defense. Still, calling the Steelers a true contender feels premature at best.
Sure, would another capable playmaker for the offense help make the passing game more consistent? Probably, but Rodgers' penchant for asking a lot of his receivers from a mental perspective makes adding an outside name to the mix more complicated.
Combine that with the expected return of both Wilson and Pittman in the near future, and the Steelers may have enough at WR given their new run-first approach.
It's fair to be frustrated that Pittsburgh isn't close to needing just one more piece to contend for a Super Bowl, but they simply aren't. The fact that Khan understands that is honestly a good thing. While sending a couple of Day 3 picks to the Colts for Josh Downs may not seem like a big deal, as the Chiefs did, some of Khan's best draft picks have come on Day 3 (Nick Herbig, Mason McCormick, Yahya Black, etc.).
Overall, fans shouldn't feel like Khan let them or any of his players down by not making a move at the deadline. If they should be upset about anything, it's the fact that he, and more importantly, owner Art Rooney II, seem unwilling to bite the bullet and begin their inevitable rebuild. And if Rodgers returned this season and expected the Steelers to mortgage their future for his final ride (which I don't believe is the case at all), it would be on him for not knowing how this franchise operates.
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