The NFL trade deadline is less than two weeks away, and this year's deadline has the potential to be one of the busiest in recent memory. With multiple teams reportedly looking to sell, the Pittsburgh Steelers could have several opportunities to improve their roster.
Teams like the Colts have already made moves, including trading Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks, while the Chargers and Eagles are among the teams looking to reshape their rosters.
Opinions on Omar Khan's performance as the Steelers' general manager may vary, but one area that has been difficult to defend is his handling of the wide receiver position. Whether it's failing to add enough talent to the room or making trades that haven't panned out, the Steelers have continued to struggle to find consistent production at the position.
With the trade deadline approaching, one thing is clear: Khan can't afford to drag his feet this time around.
Pittsburgh Steelers Omar Khan can’t get left with egg on his face again at the NFL trade deadline
Khan’s issues at wide receiver go back to the 2024 offseason when the Steelers traded away Diontae Johnson but failed to bring in another capable receiver to pair with George Pickens. Khan explored a trade for Brandon Aiyuk, but Pittsburgh didn't have a solid backup plan if the deal fell through.
The Steelers didn't make another significant addition at the position, and the Aiyuk trade ultimately never happened. Pittsburgh eventually traded for Mike Williams at the 2024 trade deadline, but he wasn't a long-term solution.
The following offseason, Khan traded for DK Metcalf and moved on from Pickens, but the Steelers still haven't found a reliable No. 2 receiver to play alongside Metcalf. Pittsburgh also failed to get a deal done for Jakobi Meyers or Rashid Shaheed at last year's trade deadline, leaving the team without a major addition at receiver. Instead, the Steelers had to rely on veteran options like Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling to help fill the void.
Now, with Roman Wilson on injured reserve and Michael Pittman Jr. also sidelined with an injury that could keep him out for an extended period, another one of Khan's receiver moves has become a disappointment.
Trading for Metcalf and committing significant money to a receiver with a limited skill set was already a questionable decision, but trading for Pittman and extending him, only for him to barely see the field this season, has been another setback.
Luckily, rookie Germie Bernard has shown promise, but the Steelers still need another receiver in the meantime who can consistently create separation and open up the passing game. That need becomes even more important when opposing defenses play man coverage, something Pittsburgh's offense has struggled to handle.
The Steelers have several potential options to consider on the trade market, but Khan needs to strike early rather than wait until his options disappear. With the bye week coming up next week, acquiring a receiver now would also give him extra time to learn the playbook and build chemistry with the offense before getting thrown into game action.
Khan has waited long enough, and if he doesn't act soon, he could once again be left regretting a missed opportunity.
Add us as a preferred source on Google