Steelers Expected to Make Key Trades Amid AFC North Lead, Super Bowl Push

The Pittsburgh Steelers face pressing challenges as the 2025 NFL trade deadline approaches, with a critical need to bolster their defense more urgently than their wide receiver corps, despite recent acquisitions of veteran cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay, who are advancing in age and past their Pro Bowl primes. The defense's decline has been stark, highlighted by allowing 21 fourth-quarter points in a recent loss to the Green Bay Packers, underscoring the team's vulnerability despite leading the AFC North with a 4-3 record. On offense, the Steelers are exploring wide receiver trade options to support quarterback Aaron Rodgers, with Jakobi Meyers of the Las Vegas Raiders and Rashid Shaheed of the New Orleans Saints emerging as realistic trade targets due to their contract situations and fit potential. However, some analysts suggest the Steelers may only pursue minor moves at wide receiver, reflecting the limited role receivers play in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's tight end-focused scheme and cautioning against blockbuster trades that demand high draft capital. Concurrently, General Manager Omar Khan remains open to trading players, including quarterbacks like Skylar Thompson, to enhance draft capital and maneuver in the trade market strategically. Overall, the Steelers appear poised to be active at the deadline but with a measured approach prioritizing defensive upgrades and cost-effective offensive additions rather than headline-grabbing acquisitions.