Report: Steelers Won’t Make Any Trades at Deadline

Steelers GM Omar Khan
Pittsburgh Steelers GM Omar Khan scans the field before Pittsburgh's game against the 49ers, Sept. 10, 2023 - Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

The Steelers could look around the NFL and move to bolster the team on Tuesday. However, the trade deadline is approaching at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, so if the Steelers make a move, that move will come soon. Yet, they have not been linked to many trade rumors, and they could stand pat.

Adam Caplan of Pro Football Network sees the Steelers not making a trade. Despite Omar Khan’s aggressive past at the trade deadline, he also has measured expectations about what they can realistically do. As such, Caplan does not seem to be making any moves.

“Like some other “old school” teams, the Steelers typically build through the draft and add a few free agents here and there, but they’re not likely to make many in-season trade deadline deals,” Caplan wrote. “In fact, both players on their roster who were acquired via trades were not acquired near the deadline over the years…And as one personnel executive from another team told us, they seem “really happy with their rookie class and want those guys to play.”

Again, nothing is guaranteed here, and Pittsburgh has long-term needs (a cornerback especially to play opposite Joey Porter Jr. for the future), but those can be addressed in free agency or next year’s draft.”

Last season, the Steelers decided to move on from the drama-filled problem of Chase Claypool when they traded him to the Chicago Bears for the 32nd overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, which later turned into Joey Porter Jr. The other move that the team made in 2022 was when they sent a conditional 2025 sixth-round draft pick to the Washington Commanders for cornerback William Jackson III. In turn, Jackson never played a down for the Steelers and was released this past offseason.
However, Pittsburgh has made trades in four straight trade deadlines. If the pattern continues, the Steelers may not make any significant moves since they own a record of 4-3, but they could certainly make a minor move. It will come down to their needs and their desire to look at the young guys at certain spots.
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