Steelers' Recent Sixth-Round Picks Are Strong Proof That Pittsburgh Should Have Been More Aggressive During 2025 Trade Deadline

After a solid 5-3 start to the 2025 NFL season, the Pittsburgh Steelers were thought to possibly be an active team ahead of the trade deadline. However, aside from the team acquiring veteran safety Kyle Dugger before last week's win over the Indianapolis Colts, no other trades were made by the front office. Steelers General Manager Omar Khan was unwilling to part with any future draft capital on Tuesday to make a major splash. With the additions of Dugger and potentially Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the active roster, perhaps Pittsburgh feels like the roster is good enough to win a Super Bowl. Still, there are some fans who do not feel that way. 

Barstool Sports and Steelers content creator Kevin Adams recently shared his unhappiness with the team's decision not to take advantage of trading for a quality player on Tuesday while in first place in the AFC North, especially with the franchise's lack of success with late-round picks in recent years. Below is what Adams told SteelerNation.com. 

"6th-round pick is a lottery ticket that amounts to zip 9/10 times," Adams said. "When people were saying the Steelers were smart for not sending that much capital for a rental, but when you have to ask, 'Okay, well, he's worth more than a 5th and les than a 3rd. So 4 makes sense. If you're in a bidding war, you send the 6 to make them happy.' If the Steelers wouldn't send the 6th, they're dumb because their 6's are irrelevant and even on a rental, that's what all-in requires. Now we have the deadline with zero wide receivers, but at least we have that 6th that was considered the overpay part." 

In recent years, the Steelers have had some fairly unsuccessful late-round picks. When Isaiah Buggs is arguably your team's most notable sixth or seventh-round pick over the last five or six seasons, that is not good. That is why Adams' take, using sixth-round picks as an example, on the team not being aggressive enough makes sense. Why hold onto late-round picks that have landed you insignificant players in recent years, whether that is in the fifth, sixth, or seventh round? 

With the trade deadline now over, Pittsburgh made no major deals for a position of need, such as wide receiver. 

Lack Of Aggression Could Hurt Steelers If They Aren't Careful

Again, the Steelers are 5-3 and in first place in the AFC North. In fact, they are two games ahead of the next closest team, the Baltimore Ravens. This team had a very real chance to go even more all-in by helping out star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The four-time MVP has had a great start to the 2025 season. He has thrown 17 touchdowns so far and has posted a passer rating of 103.1 through eight games. Pittsburgh's front office had a real chance to add another significant wide receiver if they had wanted to part ways with a late-round draft pick or two. Instead, they made the interesting decision to stand pat feeling satisfied with the additions of Dugger and Valdes-Scantling, which is assuming the latter can eventually be promoted to the active roster.

While Rodgers has played well, at 41 years of age, he is going to continue to need all the help that he can as the weather gets colder and colder. Opposing defenses will get tougher and tougher to figure out, especially by the time the playoffs roll around. Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith's system could get more predictable. As good as Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf and the tight end room has been for Rodgers and co., what happens when they can't get open? Somebody else is going to have to emerge. Khan's decision to not want to give up more for a talented wide receiver such as Jaylen Waddle was notable, and it won't soon be forgotten by Steelers fans. This is especially true if the team fails to at least win one playoff game this season.

#SteelerNation