Mike Tomlin expressed that the Pittsburgh Steelers want to be 'buyers' at the NFL trade deadline, but they were beaten to the punch just on this one. Just hours before the 4 pm ET deadline, the Las Vegas Raiders traded wide receiver Jakobi Meyers to the Jacksonville Jaguars, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.
Meyers was the biggest name linked to the Steelers during trade talks in the month leading up to the deadline. The Raiders' wide receiver is experienced with size and natural ability to win out wide or from the slot. With Pittsburgh's receivers greatly lacking production this season, adding an experienced weapon seemed like a move that was on the table.
But it wasn't for a lack of effort.
After the Meyers trade news dropped, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers were among the teams that inquired about a trade for Meyers. But the Jaguars proved to be the most desperate.
Jacksonville recently placed top draft pick Travis Hunter on IR. Meanwhile, last year's first-round pick, Brian Thomas Jr., is dealing with a high-ankle sprain. In the trade, the Jags sent a fourth-round pick and a sixth-round pick in next year's draft to Las Vegas.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were wise to avoid a Jakobi Meyers trade (at that price)
I wasn't opposed to bringing a player like Jakobi Meyers to Pittsburgh, but everything has to be done at the right cost. Had this been a fifth-round pick or later, that's an easy decision. Most fans could also get on board with the idea of parting with a fourth-round pick as well. But now we're talking two picks in next year's draft and topping Jacksonville's offer.
With Jacksonville's selections sent to Las Vegas likely higher than the Steelers' picks of the same round, Omar Khan would have needed to find a way to up the ante. And at that price, I'm out on Meyers.
There's still time for the Steelers to get a deal done before the deadline, but they need to act fast. If not, they will need to rely on Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson for help at the wide receiver position moving forward. Either way, there might not be a receiver out there who moves the needle enough to make a big move.