The Pittsburgh Steelers and the rest of the NFL are a bit on edge right now with the league's trade deadline just over 24 hours away. The Steelers are preparing for a big game within the division as the team will travel to take on the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday Night Football in Week 10. The Steelers have already beaten the Bengals during the 2026 season, and the team will look for the sweep this week as the winner of the game will have sole possession of first place in the AFC North. It is the biggest game of the season for Pittsburgh, and hopefully the roster will have some new talent on it after the deadline passes.
Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Art Rooney II, Mike McCarthy, and Omar Khan during McCarthy's introductory press conference at the start of the 2026 offseason.
The Steelers have been connected to a few names on the trade market over the last month or so, and most people would probably agree that this team needs some help at wide receiver. If the organization is serious about being viewed as a contender this season, another wide receiver that can produce immediately needs to be brought in. The depth is questionable in the room, and the injury concerns are real. Not to mention that DK Metcalf has struggled mightily on the year and the other top wide receiver is a rookie.
A few names the Steelers have been connected to include Brian Thomas Jr. and Josh Downs. Downs seems more likely to be on the move as the Indianapolis Colts have sold off a few players already, and the team is clearly shopping the wide receiver. Beat writer Mark Kaboly spoke about this during a recent appearance on 93.7 The Fan, and he doesn't believe the team should be too worried about whatever price they have to pay to bring in help at receiver.
"Should price even be accounted for?" Kaboly asked. "They're 6-2. They have a shot here. Should price even come into it? Who cares if it's a third-rounder?"
Kaboly seems to think that the Steelers are just a wide receiver away from being able to go on a run during the postseason and win some meaningful games. That is likely wishful thinking, but the franchise at least has to pursue a trade like this to give itself a shot moving forward.
Eric Canha / Imagn Images
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (2) catches a pass during training camp at Gillette Stadium.
Kaboly was specifically referring to Downs when bringing up the fact that cost shouldn't really matter to Pittsburgh as the team is trying to win a playoff game for the first time in nearly a decade. He also mentioned that the price of a trade for Downs might not even be that bad as the Colts don't really have any leverage. Downs has seemed checked out on the field over the last couple of games, and he is a free agent during the 2027 offseason. Indianapolis has to trade him or else the team will risk him being another piece of the compensatory pick formula.
Steelers Are Facing Competition For Josh Downs
Downs is arguably the top wide receiver that is available via trade, and the Steelers are facing some competition for his services. The Kansas City Chiefs are a team that needs help at wide receiver, and that could be the missing piece for them to go on a legitimate Super Bowl run. Pittsburgh will probably need to at least match whatever Kansas City offers.
The speculation right now is that Indianapolis would want a third-round pick for Downs, which is a price that some teams are not going to be willing to pay. A fourth-round pick makes a little bit more sense, but if a team offers up a third-rounder, they will likely win the bidding war. Downs is a great route runner who can separate well against man coverage, which is exactly what the Steelers need. The offense could be much more efficient by bringing him into the mix.
What price would you be willing to pay for Downs? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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