The Pittsburgh Steelers have been a constant part of trade rumors since the 2024 offseason. The offseason was dominated by storylines about Pittsburgh's quarterback situation and their desperate pursuit of Brandon Aiyuk, who wound up staying put. General Manager Omar Khan also tried to land Davante Adams when he became available during the regular season, but he was dealt to the New York Jets. Pittsburgh is still searching for help at receiver, but they are quickly running out of time.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan (left) and Head Coach Mike Tomlin (right) sit in the franchise's draft room as they anxiously watch the board in 2023.
It's clear Pittsburgh has some holes in their roster that they would like to fill, mainly at wide receiver. Khan has checked in with a lot of teams that may have wide receivers available, and right now it seems like the two most likely candidates to end up in Pittsburgh are Adam Thielen or Mike Williams, although the Jets may be hesitant to deal Williams. Head Coach Mike Tomlin spoke during his press conference on Tuesday and he was asked about the trade deadline, where he shared that the Steelers are involved.
"We work the trade market," Tomlin said. "Not only at that position, but all positions. I think every team does, particularly those of us that are trying to lean in as the road gets narrow. So, I acknowledge that we are active participants in trade discussions, but to be quite honest with you, we always are. So I wouldn't read too much into that behavior. I just think that's normal, prudent business for us if you're trying to be a developing World Championship-winning outfit."
The Steelers have clear intentions to win now, especially with an aging quarterback who is only under contract through the end of the 2024 season. Tomlin made sure to note that the organization is doing its due diligence searching for all positions.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin looks on after big win over the New York Jets in 2024.
Positions where Pittsburgh may need to improve on the defensive side of the ball are at edge rusher and cornerback. The Steelers don't need starting-caliber players in those spots, but they could always use depth. The team learned a hard lesson late in the 2023 season when they had to start elevating guys from the practice squad to play meaningful snaps thanks to injuries, and Tomlin doesn't want to be in that spot again.
Fans want to see Pittsburgh add another wide receiver. Thielen could be an interesting name to add. He recorded over 100 receptions and 1,000 yards with the Carolina Panthers during the 2023 season. He also has a lot of experience under his belt and could be a valuable, veteran leader in the wide receiver room for the Steelers.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin coaching his team during a home game against the New York Jets.
Steelers Need To Bolster Their Roster For Intense Second Half Of The Season
Pittsburgh has their work cut out for them in the second half of the season. They will be playing all six of their divisional games while also taking on the Washington Commanders, Kansas City Chiefs, and Philadelphia Eagles. It may be a good idea for Khan to upgrade the roster a bit before the group takes on this chunk of their schedule. This next part of the season is crucial when it comes to playoff positioning. Pittsburgh currently holds the three-seed in the AFC and leads the AFC North, but that can change quickly with a couple of losses within the division.
Khan is waiting for the right deal to roll around, but time is quickly running out for the general manager to make one last upgrade to this roster. The wide receivers on the current roster have played better with Russell Wilson at quarterback, but improvements can still be made.
What do you think about Tomlin's comments regarding the trade market and Pittsburgh's involvement? Let us know in the comments below!
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