The Pittsburgh Steelers opted against making any deals ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline. Though plenty of media speculation connected them to acquiring a wide receiver to bolster the offense, Omar Khan was quiet in the final hours.
The only trade he’ll make during the 2025 season was last Tuesday’s deal for New England Patriots S Kyle Dugger. Pittsburgh gave up a 2026 sixth-round pick for Dugger and a conditional 2026 seventh round selection. Despite a Tuesday report the Steelers were “aggressive” throughout the day, the only moves Pittsburgh made was a practice squad reshuffling.
Though it’s unclear how serious trade talks got, the Steelers will roll with the wide receiver group currently assembled: DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek, Scotty Miller, Ke’Shawn Williams. The only new addition is Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who officially signed with the Steelers’ practice squad today. Miller has missed the past two games with a finger injury with uncertain status for Sunday night’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The only way Pittsburgh can upgrade its roster the rest of the way is through free agency. Post-deadline, all players released, vested or not, will be subject to waivers and claims.
With the trade deadline passing, any player who is now released has to be exposed to waivers. That now obviously includes vested veterans. #Steelers #NFL
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) November 4, 2025
Pittsburgh’s offense has been a strength this season, nearly a top-10 unit in points per game. The team has relied on its top three tight ends, Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, and Darnell Washington, as capable pass catchers to round out the passing game and lessen the need for a wide receiver. Austin has played well when given the chance while Wilson’s snap count and play have ascended, though he had a “boneheaded” fumble in Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.
The Steelers were connected to several trade candidates, especially the Las Vegas Raiders’ Jakobi Meyers. Multiple reports, including one from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, explicitly stated that Pittsburgh had conversations with Las Vegas about Meyers. Ultimately, Meyers went to the Jacksonville Jaguars for fourth- and sixth-round picks while New Orleans Saints WR Rashid Shaheed was shipped to the Seattle Seahawks for fourth and fifth rounders.
Potential deals weren’t struck with other names like the New Orleans Saints’ other receivers in Chris Olave and Brandin Cooks, the Tennessee Titans’ Calvin Ridley, and the New York Jets’ Allen Lazard. The Miami Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle was the top theoretical name available with the door opening after GM Chris Grier was fired last Friday, but Waddle’s price tag was reportedly and expectedly steep. A seller’s market may have created high price tags for any options, leaving Khan to hold onto his draft picks than part away with more capital.
The Steelers opted against adding depth anywhere else on their roster. Offensive line and the secondary were two possible areas to upgrade but a lack of options made getting a deal done difficult. Dugger was immediately inserted into the starting lineup and played well against the Colts. He could remain in that starting spot even as Jabrill Peppers and Chuck Clark get back to health.
During his Tuesday press conference, Mike Tomlin smiled and quipped he “likes to go shopping” when asked if the team would make a move ahead of the deadline. But the Steelers didn’t finalize any deals during one of the most intense trade deadlines in recent memory. Headline players like Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams were shipped to the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys, respectively, as the Jets loaded up on future first-round picks.
Smaller trades dotted the rest of the day, including one that sent New Orleans Saints OT Trevor Penning to the Los Angeles Chargers, a team in desperate need of help ahead of facing Pittsburgh this weekend.
This July, Khan expressed hesitancy to part with next year’s draft picks. Pittsburgh could have a dozen selections, including several in the top 100. Not only will that help in a potential trade-up for a first-round quarterback, but it will add plenty of youth to one of the NFL’s oldest rosters.
At 5-3 and coming off an impressive win against the Colts, the Steelers have a roster they can win with. The key will be finding consistency, especially on defense, and having good health to hold off a Baltimore Ravens AFC North comeback.
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