The NFL trade deadline has finally come and gone, and what a deadline it was. Plenty of players who were rumored to be on the block did ultimately get moved, several of whom were reported targets of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The New York Jets surprised the league with a total teardown, shipping off Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams to the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys, respectively.
Ultimately, the Steelers chose not to take part in the festivities, opting to stand pat despite all of the players they were tied to. Receiver's Jakobi Meyers and Rashid Shaheed ended up on new teams in exchange for a few Day 3 picks, but they were rentals that Pittsburgh clearly didn't think were worth that price.
While some fans may be disappointed by the lack of moves, this deadline proved that general manager Omar Khan may be finally looking toward the future of the franchise.
The Pittsburgh Steelers may finally be focusing on the future after quiet deadline
Since taking over as the GM for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Khan has been much more aggressive in terms of the trade market than his predecessor, Kevin Colbert. Trades for Justin Fields, Mike Williams, Jalen Ramsey, and Jonnu Smith, among others, have helped the Steelers attempt to compete in a stacked AFC conference.
Ultimately, however, his efforts haven't gotten Pittsburgh any closer to being a true contender. It's rare that players available for trade are big enough difference makers to change a team's fortune. Even the Colts and Cowboys may end up regretting their big swings for the Jets' top players, especially if they don't help lead them to a Super Bowl.
Read More: Steelers miss out again as another WR target heads to NFC contender
Khan has instead set his sights on the 2026 NFL draft, choosing to hold onto his cache of picks. With the draft coming to Pittsburgh next year, all eyes will be on how he uses the Steelers extensive list of selections to shape the future of the franchise.
Will he select the next potential franchise quarterback? What about a running mate for DK Metcalf? Perhaps a new piece for the secondary? Everything is on the table at this point, and that's why having as much ammunition as possible will be paramount to his success in building up the roster.
With the league's most expensive defense and its top players only getting older, adding as much cost-controlled talent as possible is the best way to improve the team. Sending multiple picks away for rental players or low-upside veterans just didn't make sense, and I give Khan credit for not being blinded by a 5-3 record and current first-place standing in the AFC North.