If the Pittsburgh Steelers refuse to heavily invest in the roster before this trade deadline, then it's safe to assume Omar Khan will never pull off big-time moves. For one reason or another, the organization has failed to land big deals before the trade deadline since Khan took over as general manager, and it cannot happen again.
The Steelers sit at an impressive 6-2 record going into the trade deadline, and they need to find a way to land a high-profile wide receiver.
Many names have populated the rumor mill as potential trade targets for the Steelers. Some of the top names linked to them who could move the needle are Josh Downs, Ladd McConkey, Brian Thomas Jr., and others. That being said, this team cannot afford to miss out on some talented receivers this year. This might be Pittsburgh's best shot at ending their failures in the postseason.
For those of you who forgot, two years ago around this time, Khan and the Steelers settled on Mike Williams to be their "upgrade" at the wide receiver position. It seemed like a move that they settled for, and that's exactly how it reflected on the field. With names like Calvin Ridley and Jauan Jennings possibly on the trade block, they cannot be the next iteration of Mike Williams this time around.
Pittsburgh Steelers cannot trade for Calvin Ridley or Jauan Jennings if they want to contend
Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans
Going with Calvin Ridley would be a bold move by the Steelers, but it could make more sense than Jauan Jennings. No, Ridley isn't the same player as he once was, but he is someone who can play in multiple roles at the receiver position. He's a smart target on offense and would likely fit in well with Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback. The issue is that Ridley might be too old to fix.
His contract doesn't end until after the 2027 season, but Ridley could become a clear cap dump if this trade flopped. He also wouldn't cost much to acquire, but that's because he isn't a highly productive player on a poor Titans team. He has 91 yards through seven games this season, and only six receptions. Last season only saw him tally 303 yards and no touchdowns through seven games.
Pittsburgh has to shoot for someone better than Ridley, or it could be another Mike Williams scenario.
Jauan Jennings, Minnesota Vikings
If the Steelers panic and settle for a last-minute wide receiver addition who is purely a rental, then it'll be Jauan Jennings. He was once revered as one of the toughest to play at his position, and at a high level, but that has fallen off the radar this season. Jennings hasn't been a good fit with the Vikings, and he's been desperate to find a trade out of town.
Pittsburgh needs a highly explosive receiver, not Jennings.
Through six games of action, Jennings has struggled to find snaps and only has 54 receiving yards. That's a long way off from last season, when he totaled nine touchdowns with the 49ers. Out of him and Ridley, perhaps Jennings has a shot to turn things around with the Steelers, but that's far from a guarantee. One thing is for sure: the Black and Gold must find a true upgrade and refuse to panic.
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