The Pittsburgh Steelers watched the trade deadline pass without landing their target receiver. They pursued Jakobi Meyers for weeks but lost the bidding war to the Jacksonville Jaguars hours before the deadline expired.
GM Omar Khan Lost Bidding War for Big Shot Wide Receiver to Jaguars
GM Omar Khan Lost Bidding War for Big Shot Wide Receiver to Jaguars (Image Via Instagram/@adamschefter)
Adam Schefter revealed the details on thePat McAfee Show Tuesday. “Pittsburgh expressed some interest in Jakobi Meyers, but obviously Jacksonville really stepped up to get something done here,” Schefter said. “Those are the two teams, I think, that really wanted to add Meyers to their roster.”
“The one team that also called on Jakobi Meyers was Pittsburgh..
Jacksonville really stepped up to get this deal done” ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive https://t.co/g2RdVvWNoK pic.twitter.com/D365yrMHRQ
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 4, 2025
The loss stings even more because Mike Tomlin hinted at a major move just hours earlier. When asked if last week’s Kyle Dugger acquisition was Pittsburgh’s final move, Tomlin teased more action coming.
“You said four o’clock? So we got a few more hours. We’ll see what happens. I like to go shopping,” Tomlin said during his weekly press conference on theSteelers YouTube channel on Tuesday.
Tomlin emphasized that contending teams need to stay aggressive. He said that when a team is trending in the right direction and determined to compete as the margin for error shrinks, it usually remains open to adding talent that can strengthen the roster.
The coach emphasized the importance of strengthening areas that are weak. He noted that competitive teams look to add talent “whether it’s attrition-based or whether it’s just areas where you fall short.” That mindset drives successful organizations “year in and year out” as “a natural component of this thing.”
Pittsburgh sits first in the AFC North at 5-3 with a two-game lead over Baltimore. They just defeated the league’s best team by record on Sunday. Yet their receiver depth remains razor-thin even after adding Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Missed Moves Could Haunt Pittsburgh Steelers If Receiver Group Falters Down the Stretch
Tomlin has always preached that the NFL is a results business. Effort doesn’t earn you grades when other teams execute better. Omar Khan and the front office got outbid by division rivals competing for the same playoff spots.
Jacksonville secured Meyers while Seattle landed Rashid Shaheed. Miami refused to budge on Jaylen Waddle despite Pittsburgh’sinterest. The Steelers struck out on every major receiver target.
The front office spent the entire offseason positioning this team to contend. Their actions showed they viewed 2025 as a championship window. The lack of deadline activity contradicts that aggressive approach.
Steelers fans expected more from a team leading their division. What you see is what you get with Pittsburgh’s receiver corps moving forward. Khan had weeks to close a deal for Meyers but couldn’t match Jacksonville’s offer.
The missed chance could hurt Pittsburgh if their thin receiver group falters late in the season. Championship teams fix weaknesses before the deadline. The Steelers watched rivals get stronger while they stayed put.
Khan’s struggle to land a key receiver raises doubts about the front office’s push to win now. Leading the division means little if you fail to make moves that actually improve the team.