The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a pretty decent spot after the first seven weeks of the 2025 NFL season. The franchise has a record of 4-2 and is in first place in the AFC North, but the roster has a few areas it could be improved prior to the trade deadline on November 4th. General Manager Omar Khan will probably be working the phones while trying to figure out if there are any players available around the league that he needs to bring in. There has been a lot of talk about the wide receiver position, which is in need of an upgrade.
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Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Pittsburgh brought in DK Metcalf during the 2025 offseason before parting ways with George Pickens, and Metcalf needs a running mate. Pittsburgh also needs an insurance plan in case Metcalf has to miss a game or two at some point during the 2025 season. A couple of names around the league have been brought up that could make sense for the Steelers, and that includes Rashid Shaheed of the New Orleans Saints. Team insider Mark Kaboly spoke about that possible addition during an episode of Kaboly + Mack on Monday.
"I think a lot of him was with the punt and kick returns," Kaboly said. "And I think Ke'Shawn Williams has pretty much took that by the neck and has it in a stranglehold and said, 'This is my job right now.' He's played well in the past two weeks, so that takes that need out of it a little bit."
Ke'Shawn Williams has been active for the last two games for the Steelers as he has been returning kicks and punts since Calvin Austin III went down with an injury back in Week 4. He has been effective in that area of the game, which could eliminate the need for acquiring a player like Shaheed, who has made a name for himself as a returner in addition to being a solid wide receiver.
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Steelers' backup quarterback Skylar Thompson celebrates with his teammate wide receiver Ke'Shawn Williams after a nice play in the 2025 preseason.
Shaheed has been a great player for New Orleans after being undrafted in 2022. He burst onto the scene due to his play on special teams, but has quickly shown that he can be a great player on the offensive side of the ball as well. He recorded 719 receiving yards and five touchdowns during the 2023 season, and he was on pace to have his best season in 2024 before suffering a season-ending injury. He had recorded 349 yards and three touchdowns through just six contests.
The talented young wide receiver is a clear weapon for any team that he is on. He will become a free agent after the 2025 season, and he should be someone for the Steelers to look at during the 2026 offseason if the organization does not decide to acquire him via trade ahead of the deadline.
Steelers Seem Unlikely To Get Any Business Done With The New Orleans Saints
If Pittsburgh has the same thoughts as Kaboly, where the organization does not feel like it needs to go after Shaheed due to the success of Williams as a returner, then it is unlikely any business gets done with the Saints. Chris Olave is the number one wide receiver in New Orleans, and some fans in Pittsburgh were hoping a deal could get done for the star. He would cost more than Shaheed, but it could be worth it. It was reported earlier in the week that an extension is being worked on in New Orleans between Olave and the organization, which could put all trade conversations to bed revolving around the wide receiver.
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Saints' Chris Olave runs a route during an away game in 2023.
There is no denying the Steelers have some needs at wide receiver, but it does not seem very likely that a trade gets completed to bring in some big star at the position.
What do you think about the Steelers still going after Shaheed even after Williams' success? Let us know in the comments below!
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