If you're wondering why the Pittsburgh Steelers didn't join multiple NFL teams in making a blockbuster move before the NFL trade deadline, there's a reason for that... and it's not due to a lack of effort.
Multiple reports stated that the Steelers had their hat in the ring for players like Jakobi Meyers at the trade deadline. But we just found out why Pittsburgh never stood a shot to land a true needle-moving asset: the cost was too steep.
In the hours leading up to the trade deadline, the New York Jets had a fire sale. This 1-7 AFC bottom-dweller unloaded arguably their two best players, cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.
Even a team as bad as the Jets is typically in no business to unload some of their only building blocks in the primes of their careers. But when you see what teams were offering, how could the Jets say 'no'?
Gardner was traded to the Indianapolis Colts for not one, but two first-round picks (one in the 2026 NFL Draft and the other in 2027). Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys were desperate enough to fix their run defense that they sent the Jets a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, and their former 2023 first-round pick Mazi Smith for Williams.
The Pittsburgh Steelers never stood a shot at landing a true difference-maker at this cost
There's no doubt the Pittsburgh Steelers were in play for a mid-level addition. Had general manager Omar Khan been willing to top the Jacksonville Jaguars' offer of a fourth-round pick and a sixth-round pick for Jakobi Meyers, the veteran wide receiver could have been theirs.
In the same way, the Steelers had the draft capital to land former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed before the deadline, had they chosen to go that route.
But to get a true difference-maker, the price was always going to be too steep.
While nobody expected the Steelers to trade for a player like Sauce Gardner, we now know why this was never on the table... nor should it have been. Cornerback is arguably Pittsburgh's biggest need on the roster. Darius Slay has struggled all season, and this team ranks 32nd in the NFL in passing yards allowed. However, there's no way Khan and the front office could have justified giving up that much for a cornerback.
The Steelers are firmly in the playoff race, but it would have been foolish for this team to mortgage two first-round picks in an effort to fix one roster hole when they have a soon-to-be 42-year-old quarterback with no long-term answer in sight.
Every Pittsburgh Steelers fan could have gotten behind a trade to add depth and talent to this roster before the deadline. After all, this is a 5-3 team with the AFC North lead we're talking about. But to really make a needle-moving trade, it would have cost this organization an arm and a leg in draft capital.