The Pittsburgh Steelers have routinely been peppered with questions about the state of their wide receiver room for the last two years. Those concerns have resurfaced ever since Calvin Austin III went down. In Pittsburgh's first game without him this season, the offense barely saw anything from the wide receiver core outside of top-flight player DK Metcalf. That shows how the team feels about the depth overall at the position, as Roman Wilson was the only other wideout to catch a pass in that game. Everything else was to running backs and tight ends.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers’ Roman Wilson showcases his impressive athleticism with a stunning acrobatic catch during an intense practice session at the 2025 training camp.
During his weekly Q&A chat, Gerry Dulac was asked about the Steelers' possible plans to trade for a wide receiver due to the lack of depth, especially if Metcalf were to go down. He responded with the mindset of when Pittsburgh would be ready to pull the trigger.
"You are right about DK going down -- they're in trouble if he does," Dulac explained. "I think Omar Khan always has his eyes and ears open to any move that could make them better. And if by the first week of November -- the trade deadline -- they believe they are a legitimate contender, then maybe they make the move that really puts them in position to make a serious run."
Before the November 4th trade deadline, the Steelers will have three very tough games against the Cincinnati Bengals on the road on Thursday Night Football, the Green Bay Packers at home for Sunday Night Football, and another home game against the AFC-leading Indianapolis Colts. We all may see who the Steelers truly are during this stretch of games, and it doesn't get easier after that either.
Evan Siegle / Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love lines up for a snap against the Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive front during a regular season game in 2023.
If the Steelers can go 3-0 or even 2-1 in that stretch before the trade deadline, General Manager Omar Khan could be motivated to make a bold move for someone like AJ Brown or Chris Olave to help add an extra dimension to this offense. It's good to have depth guys like Ben Skowronek having an impact, but you'll still take an elite receiver over a run blocker on the outside.
If not, it may be a frustratingly quiet trade period for Steeler Nation as they just roll with what they have on the team. It would be hard to justify giving up quality assets for a major piece that might not be used much, especially if the Steelers prove that they are not truly the class of the AFC in 2025. Those assets could be used to get a franchise quarterback down the road.
Steelers Are At A Major Crossroad For Short- And Long-Term Future
The Steelers have made it very clear that they are in "the pick business," so the odds of them making a big-time trade are already slim to none. However, if they can go up against fierce competition and continue to dominate, especially in primetime, then that could be the jolt that Khan needs to make a call and see what he can do to supplement this team.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers’ General Manager Omar Khan intently making a crucial phone call during the intensity of draft night, coordinating key decisions to shape the future of the franchise.
While the division crown currently seems to be given to the Steelers on a silver platter, it is rarely ever that easy for them. They have unfortunately been known to collapse hard in recent years towards the end of the season, and many fans still have those memories in the back of their minds. Khan has seen how his teams have crumbled, so that could be in the back of his mind as well when contemplating if he should make these big moves, or wait until 2026.
What do you think about Dulac's timeline of when the Steelers will consider trading for a receiver? Do you think they will get it done? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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