The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team that should be active when the NFL's trade deadline rolls around on Tuesday after the league's Week 9 games. Pittsburgh has a bye week in Week 9, so hopefully that allows the decision-makers to be extra productive in scouring the NFL to find players that could help propel this team forward. There are currently some major flaws in the depth chart that could be addressed on the trade market, some being depth issues while others could be problems with the starting lineup. The two spots to look at for Pittsburgh are probably wide receiver and the secondary.
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Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan on the phone before a game during the 2025 season.
The Steelers need help at wide receiver due to injuries as both Roman Wilson and Michael Pittman Jr. have landed on Injured Reserve (IR) and will miss at least the next three games. The secondary is also a little banged up, but more importantly it is just a little bit unreliable. It is still hard to trust Asante Samuel Jr. against certain wide receivers, and rookie Daylen Everette has played well, but it would be nice to have someone else ready to go as well. Jamel Dean has been good, but he has a history of exiting games early and he has already dealt with a sprained ankle in 2026.
Cornerback is certainly a spot the Steelers might consider going after some external help, which is a bit ironic considering the franchise just traded away Joey Porter Jr. There are a few names around the league that could be considered, and ESPN's Dan Graziano recently named Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Tariq Woolen as a player that could be moved.
"Sometimes, circumstances change or things don't work out as expected, so teams will pivot if the terms are favorable," Graziano wrote. "A couple of other 2026 free agent signings who stand out as potentially available due to their situations not working out include Texans offensive lineman Wyatt Teller and Eagles cornerback Riq Woolen."
Woolen is known from his time with the Seattle Seahawks which is where he spent the first four seasons of his career, but Seattle chose not to bring him back and allowed him to hit free agency which is when he signed in Philadelphia. He signed a one-year deal with the Eagles that was worth up to $15 million, and he could now be moved before the deadline.
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Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) catches the ball for a touchdown as Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Riq Woolen (2) defends at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Woolen is a Super Bowl Champion and he was also a Pro Bowler during his rookie season back in 2022. He has never played quite as well as he did then, and he has a bit of a hot-headed demeanor to him which was on full display when he taunted the Los Angeles Rams' sideline during the NFC Championship Game at the end of the 2025 season. Woolen does fit what Pittsburgh usually looks for in a cornerback. He has a large frame at 6'4 and 210 pounds, and he would be cheap to acquire via trade.
Steelers Could Solve A Pair Of Problems By Doing Business With The Eagles
Woolen is a player that the Steelers should certainly be interested in, but the Steelers could also fix their wide receiver problem by doing business with Philadelphia as well. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler mentioned Woolen could be available, and then he also noted a wide receiver that could be on the move as well.
"Woolen and wide receiver Hollywood Brown are players teams are watching," Fowler wrote.
Hollywood Brown never quite turned into the player people thought he was. It is almost hard to believe that he was once traded for a first-round pick, but that did happen. Now, he could be dealt for cheap, and he is a veteran wide receiver that could intrigue the Steelers as long as he is healthy.
What do you think about Riq Woolen as a trade target for the Pittsburgh Steelers? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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