The NFL's trade deadline passed on November 4, but it's always interesting to see how new pieces jump onto a moving train. The Pittsburgh Steelers made a splash by adding Kyle Dugger leading up to the deadline, but they refrained from paying a heavy price for a receiver. They needed more weapons at the position, and many thought they would add an upgrade, but Pittsburgh failed to do so.
It seemed pretty clear that General Manager Omar Khan wasn't willing to pay the asking price for most available playmakers. He decided to hold still, and it might be the best choice for the long run. The Steelers are an inconsistent team, and they failed to garner much investment. Khan did well by trading for Dugger, but bringing in a receiver to help the offense would've been best for this season.
One of their top targets leading up to the trade deadline was Las Vegas Raiders wideout Jakobi Meyers.
Khan reportedly had a deal on the table for the veteran, but nothing materialized. They didn't go past a certain price, and the Raiders decided to trade Meyers to the Jacksonville Jaguars. After moving from Vegas to Florida, the Jaguars’ offense has taken a major step forward, something the Steelers can’t say.
Steelers failed to land Jakobi Meyers before the trade deadline, and he is making them regret it
While Meyers hasn’t become an elite receiver since joining the Jaguars, he’s still delivering strong production.
To revive their offense, the Steelers have relied on older receivers such as Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Meyers is clearly the best option out of those three, and it has shown on the football field. The Jacksonville receiver has been helping their team to a 4-1 record since being traded.
That's a strong showing in terms of helping a team where it matters most. The Jaguars sit comfortably at 9-4 and atop the AFC South. Their gamble on adding Meyers to boost the offense is clearly paying off. The Steelers, meanwhile, are barely hanging on to first place in the AFC North and could slip out of the playoff picture if they’re not careful.
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It hasn't been the strongest campaign in Meyers' career. This season, he has reached 90 receiving yards or more in just two games. Once with the Raiders and once with Jacksonville. His yardage hasn't been great in Florida yet, but he has tallied three touchdowns through five games.
Meyers was never an elite receiver, but he's showing he is a fantastic complementary piece.
The Steelers clearly missed out by not adding Meyers before the trade deadline. He is a smart veteran playmaker who could've added a new dimension to Pittsburgh's stale offense. They didn't want to risk their future draft picks to keep their sole focus on this year. Time will only tell if skipping out on a trade for Meyers was the right move. Right now, it isn't showing positive results.