The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team that could be considered a "buyer" ahead of the NFL's trade deadline. The franchise has performed about how fans expected as the group has a record of 4-2 through six weeks, but none of the wins have arguably been really impressive and it is clear that some more talent needs to be added to the roster. There are a few areas of weakness on the team, and those are in the secondary and at wide receiver. The wide receiver position is banged up as two starters have landed on Injured Reserve (IR), which has prompted some trade rumors.
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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.
The Steelers have been embroiled in trade rumors at the wide receiver position for the last three years or so, and it has grown pretty tiresome. There is a legitimate reason that the organization would be interested in bringing in external help at the position as both Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson are down for at least the next three games. The team went out and signed veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the practice squad, and beat writer Gerry Dulac believes that's the only move at wide receiver that fans will see. He mentioned this when asked about a trade for a wide receiver in a recent mailbag for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
"No," Dulac wrote. "And not after signing MVS. They're just trying to apply Band-Aids for now till their receivers come back."
Dulac implies that the Steelers are not looking for a season-long solution on the trade market. The organization seems content with relying on DK Metcalf and Germie Bernard until at least one of the injured wide receivers can return to the field. Both of those wide receivers played very well in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but there is going to come a time when Pittsburgh will need a reliable third wide receiver on the field.
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Germie Bernard (17) scores a touchdown in overtime against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6 at Raymond James Stadium.
The organization has reason to be happier with the wide receiver situation in 2026 than it ever was in 2025. The group has been pretty solid over the last two weeks, even while dealing with the injuries. The biggest issue is the depth. If Metcalf or Bernard goes down, the offense will not be in a good spot. The next two guys up are two practice squad elevations in Brandon Johnson and Brandon Smith, with Valdes-Scantling likely joining that group within the next week or so.
Johnson and Smith were elevated in Week 6, and neither player saw a target in the game. Rodgers doesn't have any trust throwing to them, which is probably why the team went out and signed Valdes-Scantling. He has history with the veteran wide receiver, and the two have some sort of chemistry. There are some other veterans out there on the trade market that could probably be acquired, but according to Dulac, the franchise has no interest in doing that.
Steelers May Have Good News Coming At Wide Receiver
If the organization is not looking to acquire any external help at wide receiver, it is a relatively good sign when it comes to the health of Wilson or Pittman. Pittman could still miss the entire season due to his foot injury, but Wilson should be able to return once he misses the next three games due to his IR stint. The Steelers also have a bye week mixed in there, so he would be getting an extra week to heal. If the Steelers are not going to pursue receivers on the trade market, it likely means Wilson should only be missing the minimum amount of time that IR requires before returning to the field.
What do you think about the Pittsburgh Steelers not being interested in bringing in another wide receiver via trade before the deadline? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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