With the trade deadline quickly approaching, the Pittsburgh Steelers should be in a shopping mindset. They sit at their bye week atop a wide-open AFC North division and hold an impressive 6-2 record. There is a brutal schedule following their bye week, and the club could use some improvements in several spots across their roster.
Luckily for them, there are quality options on the trade block to consider.
Pittsburgh's trade board should be filled with quality players at positions of need for them. The team could use some help at wide receiver, in the secondary, and potentially at right guard. All of those weaknesses on the roster could inflate if the Steelers don't address them before the trade deadline passes. Time is ticking, and the trade board is ever shifting as clubs attempt to boost their rosters.
It might cost a decent asset to acquire him, but the Steelers should be going after Ladd McConkey. He will probably be the best wide receiver available on the market before the deadline. The issue is that no one knows exactly how many players the Chargers will move this year. Pittsburgh should do their best to convince LA to send McConkey to the Steel City, even if it's at a steep cost.
Let's say the Chargers hang onto McConkey; the Steelers should be after Josh Downs instead.
He's an impressive receiver with youth on his side. His ability to separate at a high success rate is something that the offense is missing. Downs is scheduled to become a free agent, so with him being a rental, plus the Colts holding a fire sale, this weapon could become a top target before the NFL trade deadline passes.
This hasn't been the best season for the Eagles or Tariq Woolen. Philadelphia seems ready to punt on the year, and that means moving Woolen makes a ton of sense. The highly regarded cornerback could use a change of scenery. Pittsburgh's secondary hasn't missed Joey Porter Jr. much to this point in the campaign, but with a tough schedule upcoming, they would be wise to have a fallback option.
He has been one of the bigger names on the trade block for a while now. The Steelers remain connected to Brian Thomas Jr. in many rumors, but he shouldn't be their top target. One would have to speculate that the Jaguars would be asking a high price for the former first-round pick. Another thing to wonder is why a playoff contender would be willing to part with a high-profile playmaker.
Although the offensive line has seemingly turned a corner in recent weeks, that shouldn't stop the Black and Gold from investing up front. Landon Dickerson makes a ton of sense, as he can play almost every spot along the interior of the offensive line. The biggest question mark in the trenches for the Steelers is Brock Hoffman, and Dickerson could be a strong insurance policy going forward.
Recent history for the Steelers shows us they love aging wide receivers who could come on the cheap.
Chris Godwin is a player Aaron Rodgers would likely covet before the trade deadline, but he shouldn't be at the top of Pittsburgh's trade board. It's been a down year to start for Godwin, and his injury history is another problem. The veteran would be an upgrade , but he hasn't played a full season of football since 2023.
There are a lot of connections to make between the Steelers and Donte Jackson. The one that sticks out most was his lone season with the Black and Gold back in 2024. He's getting older, but his production hasn't fallen off much. The Chargers should be willing to sell him off the trade block for a rather cheap price. Jackson would be a tremendous player to help boost the secondary's depth.
Everything along the offensive line is going well, but if injuries strike in a hurry, that could change in a matter of seconds. Both Troy Fautanu and Max Iheanachor have no adequate replacements behind them, so bringing in Jawaan Taylor might be best for business this season. The veteran tackle can start games on both sides of the trenches, and his level of experience would be a nice get.
This one is another depth move for the Steelers to consider before the trade deadline. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham held the same title with the Las Vegas Raiders last season, where he coached Isaiah Pola-Mao. The safety has been relegated to a depth role this year but could still help Pittsburgh. The secondary is fragile, and any sort of injury setback could deflate that group.
You have to include Jauan Jennings on this trade board, but if the Steelers trade for him, this would give Mike Williams vibes from 2024.
The one good thing about Jennings is that he is tough and a willing blocker. The issue is that Pittsburgh needs a dynamic wide receiver from the trade block to come in and become a top option for them on offense. Jennings would seem like a panic move by the organization.
This article was originally published on www.stillcurtain.com as Josh Downs continues to lurk near the top of Steelers trade board at bye week .
