The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team that could be very active when the NFL's trade deadline approaches on the Tuesday following the league's Week 9 games. Pittsburgh has some areas on the depth chart that could be upgraded, and the team will certainly need some more depth in certain areas depending on the statuses of some injuries. Wide receiver is a position to watch as two starters are currently on Injured Reserve (IR) and will miss at least the next three games, while the secondary could also use a boost. There are several names on the trade market that could help the secondary if the Steelers pursue that need.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan stands at the podium as he fields questions from reporters about the future of the team during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, IN.
General Manager Omar Khan has not been scared to make some trades throughout his tenure, with his most aggressive trade deadline coming back during the 2024 season. The Steelers currently sit at 4-2 and some fans are expecting this deadline to be similar to that one back in 2024 when Pittsburgh added multiple players. Not everyone agrees, but it is easy to understand why Pittsburgh might want to upgrade the roster in some areas and it is also easy to understand why holding onto future draft capital might be considered a priority.
If the Steelers do not want to go big fish hunting at the deadline, there are some smaller names around the league that could be available that could make an impact on this team. ESPN's Bill Barnwell did a few trade projections in a recent article, and he mentioned the Steelers landing safety Isaiah Pola-Mao from the Las Vegas Raiders.
"Here's another defensive back with a realistic shot of being moved before the deadline," Barnwell wrote. "Pola-Mao started at free safety for the Raiders in 2024 and 2025 under then-coordinator Patrick Graham. Pola-Mao isn't a great player, but he's a viable safety in a pinch. And the Steelers seem to be in a pinch for safety help around this time every year. The Steelers are using Jaquan Brisker and rookie seventh-round pick Robert Spears-Jennings at safety, with Jalen Ramsey playing in a hybrid slot/safety role. Brisker's injury history and Spears-Jennings' inexperience would suggest that the Steelers would be wise to at least add a veteran safety as depth."
There are a few obvious connections between the Steelers and Pola-Mao. The first being that he played under Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham in Las Vegas, and the second being that he is the nephew of Troy Polamalu. They each played at USC, and he has followed his uncle's footsteps by playing safety.
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Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) breaks up a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers tight end Brayden Willis (9) near the goal line during the second quarter at Allegiant Stadium.
Pola-Mao is only under contract through the end of the 2026 season, so any trade would be a rental deal pretty much through the end of the year. Barnwell's proposal has the Steelers receiving Pola-Mao along with the Raiders' seventh-round pick in 2028 while sending away Pittsburgh's own sixth-round pick in 2028. It is a pick swap for a decent safety who isn't seeing the field too much where he is currently, but he has the experience and skills to make a difference elsewhere.
Steelers Need Safety Help
The Steelers recently released veteran safety Rayshawn Jenkins, and right now at safety it has been Robert Spears-Jennings and Jaquan Brisker with Jalen Ramsey playing there occasionally. DeShon Elliott is set to return soon, but he and Brisker each have questionable injury history. There is no doubt that the Steelers need another safety. It will be interesting to see if they go after a player like Pola-Mao, or if they take a bigger swing and land someone like Jessie Bates from the Atlanta Falcons.
What do you think about the Pittsburgh Steelers trading for Polamalu's nephew? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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