"They Are Not": Steelers Insider Shuts Down Recent Trade Rumors

There has been plenty of speculation about the Pittsburgh Steelers getting ready to engage in trade talks. This should not come as a surprise due to the fact that the team is sitting at 5-2 with just one week left prior to the bye. If Omar Khan and the front office have an opportunity to improve the roster, they will be sure to do so. The stars have to align, however. Another organization has to be willing to be a dance partner and accept specific compensation. November 10th can't come soon enough, as a new face, or multiple, could arrive in the Steel City.

Wide receiver and cornerback are two areas in which the Steelers could be looking to add via the market. That is at least what insider Jordan Schultz reported on Wednesday afternoon.

This is always subject to change based on how Week 8 goes around the league. With that said, Khan might be looking to bring in several new contributors prior to the deadline. One team insider, however, is not buying what others are trying to sell. It is very possible that a lot of the information out there is not necessarily factual at this time.

In a fan chat hosted by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac, someone asked about the decision-makers making a play for a pass-catcher on the outside who could help the offense. The possibility was denied by the longtime reporter.

"They are not adding talent on the outside," Dulac wrote.

One thing very interesting to mention is that this was specifically focused on the outside. In the slot, a guy like Josh Downs could make a ton of sense. Despite that, Dulac also wrote about the Steelers not making any moves in general.

"I don't expect that. Unless there is a significant injury," Dulac explained. "They are getting their 3 WRs back and the secondary isn't as bad as people seem to think."

Dulac has covered the franchise for some time and presumably has sources on the inside. This kind of talk could be purposefully getting put out there so other organizations don't view Pittsburgh as desperate. That ideology being reported on could maybe help Khan and Co. when it comes to potentially negotiating as the trade deadline nears.

The beat writer seemed pretty adamant about the Steelers' trade deadline plans. However, everything can change very quickly at the professional level. For now, Dulac doesn't think that Pittsburgh will be buying aggressively. That doesn't mean that things can't turn in the other direction, though. The positions of need are pretty evident, especially because of the injuries and unknowns at wide receiver.

Steelers' Timeline For A Trade Could Coincide With Week 9 Bye

Khan is not afraid to make moves if he sees them as necessary. After playing the Cleveland Browns in Week 8, it could become apparent that the roster needs a boost in one specific spot. Schultz also reported that a Downs trade probably wouldn't materialize until Week 9. That conveniently happens to be when the Steelers have a bye week.

It would make plenty of sense to acquire someone when there is a long break. If Khan were to trade for Downs after the Browns matchup, the receiver would have plenty of time to acclimate. Then, a Week 10 showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals will be on the docket. Pittsburgh's schedule gets much more difficult in the second half, so it will be interesting to see if Dulac is wrong and the Steelers get aggressive.

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