The Pittsburgh Steelers were unexpectedly quiet at the NFL trade deadline. Despite concerning needs at wide receiver and cornerback, general manager Omar Khan couldn’t strike a deal the team was comfortable with to upgrade some needy positions.
Of course, the Steelers are 5-3, holding some substantive control over their destiny heading into the back stretch of the regular season. But that doesn’t mean that fans want the team to cruise through November and December with two glaring weaknesses.
So, since the trade deadline has passed, there aren’t many opportunities for the Steelers to make those upgrades. With slim pickings in the free agency pool, here are two players the Steelers could kick the tires on to see if they can help strengthen those weak spots on the roster.
Pittsburgh Steelers' trade deadline silence leaves two intriguing free agent opportunities
Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr.
A shoulder injury and back surgery have kept Asante Samuel Jr. off the field since last October, but he’s healthy and ready to join up with a contender. The Steelers are one of several teams he is scheduled to meet with over the next week. Pittsburgh will be his last stop, so the Steelers will have the benefit of being the last impression.
That doesn’t make signing Samuel a guarantee by any stretch. Three-quarters of the NFC North and the San Francisco 49ers also have their eyes on bringing him in, and each needs the help at cornerback just as badly as Pittsburgh does.
Still, Samuel fits the Steelers' defense well and was a strong player before his injury setbacks took him off the radar. At just 26 years old, signing him could lead to a long-term fix at the position instead of just a quick band-aid. The pairing of Samuel and Joey Porter Jr. on the outside with Brandin Echols in the slot and Jalen Ramsey and Kyle Dugger manning the safety positions is a tantalizing group.
Steelers fans will have to wait patiently to see if Samuel does choose Pittsburgh. If he goes elsewhere, then there aren’t any exciting options in the free agent pool who could step into a starting role and immediately contribute to the betterment of the defense.
READ MORE: Steelers had the perfect reason to avoid a risky trade deadline move
Wide Receiver Tyler Boyd
Once upon a time, former Cincinnati Bengal and Pitt Panther Tyler Boyd was talked about as a potential target for the Steelers quite often. Those days have passed, but after Pittsburgh failed to bring in a WR2 option via trade, Boyd remains a veteran option in the free agent pool who could be an option for the team.
Of course, Pittsburgh already signed Marquez Valdez-Scantling, and considering his experience with Aaron Rodgers, it might not be long before he’s off the practice squad and running nine routes for the Steelers' offense to stretch the field.
Still, the wide receiving corps in Pittsburgh is lacking even if MVS comes up to the main roster. Boyd didn’t do much with the Titans last year, his first season out of Cincinnati, but that’s understandable given the state of that franchise in recent years.
Besides, Boyd is more of an underneath option compared to Valdez-Scantling's deep threat ability, which might be more valuable to Pittsburgh considering how quickly Rodgers gets the ball out of his hands.
He’ll turn 31 this month and hasn’t played since last season. He said during the offseason he’d be open to joining the Steelers despite playing for the rival Bengals for nearly a decade.
He’s not an answer for the WR2 void, but he’s a lot better than his 2024 season would indicate, and a chance to join a contender like Pittsburgh could help him revitalize his career while improving the Steelers' offense.