Steelers Expected to Pass on Blockbuster Deal, Shop for Depth Before Trade Deadline
The 6-2 Steelers are expected to look for depth rather than a star before Tuesday's deadline, then head to Cincinnati as underdogs.
The Pittsburgh Steelers do not appear headed for a splashy move before Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET NFL trade deadline. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Sunday night that general manager Omar Khan is not planning a blockbuster. Instead, the club is looking for help around the edges of a 6-2 roster, according to Heavy.com, which relayed Dulac's update.
Dulac wrote that the team is "interested in building their depth for the remaining nine games," Heavy reported. That would close the door on the big-name receiver targets fans have been asking for. Steelers Depot added that Dulac does not expect Pittsburgh to trade anyone off its current roster. Any deal would be about adding pieces. A receiver could still be part of that, but probably not the kind fans have in mind. ESPN also took up the question of whether Pittsburgh would make a significant move this week.
Indianapolis' Josh Downs has been the receiver most often tied to Pittsburgh. Insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Steelers called the Colts about him. Yahoo Sports noted that NFL Network's Ian Rapoport put Indianapolis' asking price at a third- or fourth-round pick. Other veterans have been linked to Pittsburgh at various points this season, including Chris Godwin, Jerry Jeudy, Calvin Ridley and Keenan Allen. Dulac's report suggests none of them are coming.
Khan has already made one major move this season. On Sept. 30, Pittsburgh sent cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to Dallas for a 2028 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-rounder, according to ESPN's deadline tracker. If the deadline passes quietly, the receiver group that helped build the current winning streak will finish the year as it stands.
What it means for Cincinnati
Standing pat is easier to defend when a team is winning. The Steelers have won four straight, most recently a 27-6 rout of Cleveland at home. Before that came wins over New Orleans (16-10), at Tampa Bay (26-19) and over Indianapolis (34-22). The defense has carried the run, giving up 22 points or fewer in each of the four games and just 16 combined over the last two. The two losses, at New England (20-3) and at Cleveland (27-24), both came on the road.
Next up is another road game: Sunday, Nov. 15, at Cincinnati on NBC. Pittsburgh beat the Bengals 30-27 at home earlier this season.
The market still has Cincinnati favored. On this site's board, which tracks 11 venues, Novig lists the Bengals at -182 on the moneyline. The best price on Cincinnati anywhere is -180 at DraftKings, so the venues are only two cents apart. Novig has Pittsburgh at +174, which pays $174 on a $100 stake. On the spread, Cincinnati is favored by 3.5 points. Novig prices the Bengals at -102 and the Steelers at -106 at +3.5. The total sits at 48.5, with the over at -102 and the under at even money on Novig. Sportsbook hold runs from 3.2% to 5.1% on the moneyline, 2.9% to 4.8% on the spread and 4.0% to 4.8% on the total.
That 48.5 total is a high number for a Pittsburgh team whose recent wins have come from its defense. It also means the Steelers will need to win in Cincinnati with the offense they have now if the deadline passes without a deal.