Steelers expected to stay measured at Tuesday's trade deadline

The Steelers reach the NFL trade deadline, Tuesday at 4 p.m. Eastern, in first place in the AFC North and without much pressure to buy. They could use help at cornerback and wide receiver, but only at the right price, ESPN's Steelers reporter Brooke Pryor wrote in ESPN's team-by-team deadline preview on Wednesday. Her summary of the goal: "Don't mortgage the future for the present."

The reason, Pryor wrote, is the quarterback: even in a win-now season, finding the next franchise starter remains the club's top priority. Aaron Rodgers is 42 and in his 22nd NFL season. The answer may already be on the roster in Drew Allar or Will Howard, but Pittsburgh does not want to give up the kind of draft capital it might need to land a premium prospect next spring.

ESPN's Bill Barnwell went further in his look at the 18 teams at .500 or better, placing the Steelers among four contenders he thinks should stay quiet. The places Pittsburgh would most want to upgrade, he argued, are held by veterans who are not leaving the lineup, such as Rodgers, DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey.

Where the roster is thin

Receiver is the obvious spot. Michael Pittman Jr. (foot) has been on injured reserve since Oct. 10 and has no date to return, Roman Wilson (finger) cannot come back before Nov. 22, and Ben Skowronek (calf) sat out the Browns game. Barnwell described Metcalf as struggling; he caught one of six targets for 4 yards against Cleveland, by ESPN's box score. More on Pittman and the receiver room.

Barnwell also flagged the secondary, which a strong front seven has been covering for, and left tackle, where he wrote that Troy Fautanu has not matched his 2025 play at right tackle. He noted that only one of the Steelers' six wins has come against a likely contender, the 30-27 win over Cincinnati in Week 3.

Names in the conversation

• Josh Downs, Colts receiver. ESPN's Aaron Schatz suggested him as a target, noting the two clubs already made one receiver deal this year, the March trade that brought Pittman to Pittsburgh, and that Downs' ability to get open against zone would suit Rodgers' quick passing game.
• Mason Rudolph, quarterback. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said he does not expect Pittsburgh to trade anyone, but that a surplus at quarterback could draw calls for Rudolph, Rodgers' backup, if more starters go down. The market showed its price on Friday: Baltimore, without Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley, sent fourth- and seventh-round picks to Arizona for Jacoby Brissett and a fifth-rounder, ESPN reported. More on the Ravens and the division.

ESPN's preview gave the Steelers an 80% chance to make the playoffs as of Wednesday. Nothing reported through Friday points to a significant deal.

The Steelers are off until Sunday night, Nov. 15, at Cincinnati. Prices are on the game page, and the roster is on the team page.