OThe Pittsburgh Steelers are going to have a tough road to the playoffs in 2026 as the entire AFC North is pretty tight heading into Week 7. Every team in the division is 4-2 aside from the Cincinnati Bengals, who had a bye week in Week 6. There are nine teams in the AFC with a record of 3-2 or better, and it'll be a photo finish for the AFC North, as well as for the Wild Card in the conference. Pittsburgh has some weaknesses to address before that time arrives, and it is going to be important that General Manager Omar Khan can make some moves at the trade deadline to improve the roster.
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New Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy talks with Steelers General manager Omar Khan during a practice session at Saint Vincent College.
The area that a lot of fans want to see an addition made is wide receiver. There is a chance that Michael Pittman Jr. could miss the rest of the season with the foot injury that landed him on Injured Reserve (IR), and Roman Wilson will also be on IR for at least three more games. The trade deadline falls on the Tuesday following the league's Week 9 games, so the Steelers game in Paris against the New Orleans Saints will be a real measuring stick for how the organization should approach the deadline in 2026, and where to potentially make moves.
Beat writer Mike DeFabo hosted a Q&A on Reddit on Tuesday afternoon, and he was asked by a fan about the deadline and whether or not the franchise will address the need at wide receiver.
"So yeah, I think they should be trying to make a move," DeFabo wrote. "Your analysis is good. Receiver feels like an obvious need, given all the injuries. [Chris] Godwin, [Jerry] Jeudy, Josh Palmer, Jauan Jennings, [Brian Thomas Jr.], Calvin Ridley, maybe Josh Downs. Those are some of the names floating around now in rumors."
DeFabo only addressed the wide receiver position to begin with, and he contributed some notable names to the discussion. He also mentioned that he has heard these names in rumors, which means the organization could be connected to some of these players by now. Pittsburgh is about to play only its second game with both Pittman and Wilson on IR, so any big decision like a trade would probably be made after the team gets back from Paris.
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Jaguars' Brian Thomas Jr. runs onto the field before a game in London against the Houston Texans in 2026.
The most interesting name on this list is probably Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is young, and he has shown flashes of being a great wide receiver as he was a Pro Bowler during his rookie season in 2024. The other names mentioned by DeFabo that have accomplished the most in the NFL are Chris Godwin and Calvin Ridley. Each were named All-Pros once in their careers, but neither are the player they used to be. Ridley is a second-stringer for one of the worst teams in the league, while Godwin has still found a way to be productive.
Jeudy is likely a long shot as he plays within the division, and he also came up with a couple of big plays during Cleveland's win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6. Josh Downs could be productive in Pittsburgh and he would fill the slot role, while Josh Palmer is a trade that likely wouldn't move the needle much.
Steelers Are Not A Wide Receiver Away From Contending
The only wide receiver acquisition that should be made by Pittsburgh is likely Thomas. He has the youth and skills to help the Steelers now and in the future, and the future should be what is prioritized by the organization. The Steelers are probably not one wide receiver away from being a Super Bowl contender as they have only beaten two backup quarterbacks and Daniel Jones (outside of Joe Burrow).
What do you think about the Steelers trading for any of the players mentioned by DeFabo? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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