The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering their bye week in Week 9 in a good spot as a team through the first eight weeks of the 2026 season. The group is 6-2 and on top of the AFC North, and the team has positioned itself to potentially be buyers ahead of the league's trade deadline on Tuesday, November 10th. There are a few spots on the roster that could be upgraded, and it would be understandable if the organization wanted to add some better, more reliable depth in certain spots. Wide receiver is a position the Steelers have been connected to heavily on the trade market.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan sits next to Head Coach Mike McCarthy during the 2026 offseason.
The Steelers are in a rough spot when it comes to the wide receiver position. Both Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson are still on Injured Reserve (IR), and DK Metcalf has been shaky at best. The only reliable wide receiver for the Steelers has been rookie Germie Bernard, which isn't necessarily a recipe for success. The franchise needs to go out and get Aaron Rodgers some help so that this offense can take itself to another level by elevating the passing game.
Some of the names on the trade market that the Steelers have been connected to include Brian Thomas Jr. and Josh Downs. Thomas would probably be expensive, and Downs may cost more than some fans might expect. There are some cheaper options out there that could still make a positive impact for the offense in Pittsburgh. One of those options was pointed out by ESPN's Dan Graziano, as he mentioned that the New York Giants could look to deal Darnell Mooney. Mooney is on a one-year deal, so his contract would be easy to move.
"Who could be on the move? Wide receiver Darnell Mooney," Graziano wrote. "He is a veteran wide receiver who doesn't make much money on a team with a potentially emerging rookie receiver in Malachi Fields, so it would make sense."
The Giants already have a superstar at wide receiver in Malik Nabers, and Malachi Fields has looked good with limited opportunity so far during his rookie season in the NFL. Mooney could probably be used more elsewhere as he has only caught nine passes on the 2026 season, which means he is on pace for career lows across the board.
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New York Giants wide receiver Darnell Mooney (17) runs with the ball during a week 6 NFL football game between New York Giants and New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Mooney has played just over 50 percent of the Giants' offensive snaps during the 2026 season as the team's number two wide receiver. It would be understandable if the team wants to bump Fields up to that spot and move on from Mooney. It might be hard to imagine New York trading Mooney with two wide receivers on IR, but the Giants might want to get their rookie more involved and the offense also utilizes two tight ends a good amount.
The veteran wide receiver has had successful years before during his time with the Chicago Bears and the Atlanta Falcons, but this has been a down year so far. He even signed a $39 million deal in Atlanta during the 2024 offseason. He has produced before, and maybe Pittsburgh could pursue him ahead of the deadline. He shouldn't cost more than a mid-to-late Day 3 selection.
Steelers Need A Skill-Set Like Darnell Mooney's
Mooney is a speedy veteran with plenty of experience, and he has the ability to separate against man coverage. That is something that the Steelers are desperate to find as it has been proven throughout the first eight games that the passing game struggles for the Steelers when facing man coverage. Mooney could come in and contribute immediately in that area of the game, as long as Rodgers feels like he can trust him.
What do you think about Mooney being a potential trade target? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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