Steelers Likely Out On WR Trade Target After Potential Legal Issues Surface

The Pittsburgh Steelers have now finished their bye week, and the team will now be preparing for a big in-division battle against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 10. The Steelers and Bengals will be battling it out for first place in the AFC North, making this the biggest game of the 2026 season up until this point. Before the game this weekend, the NFL's trade deadline will come and go at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10th. The Steelers are a team that has been involved in a few different trade rumors through the first half of the season, and fans will finally find out if the team is planning to make any legitimate moves.

The Steelers have been reported to be in the market for a wide receiver, which has been the case for the past several years. There have been a few names that the franchise has been connected to, and the most realistic options feel like the cheaper veterans with more experience. Josh Downs and Brian Thomas Jr. have been the two most popular names connected with the Steelers, but those would be larger moves that could cost Pittsburgh more.

It has seemed like it would be more likely that the Steelers would land a player like Calvin Ridley, who is an accomplished veteran that has fallen out of favor with the Tennessee Titans due to the youth around him. Landing Ridley seems like a long shot now after it was reported that he was involved in a recent incident at the airport in Nashville. This news was reported by Cameron Wolfe.

"Titans WR Calvin Ridley was involved in an 'unfortunate' interaction at Nashville airport that is now in hands of law enforcement, per HC Robert Saleh, who described it as  'very minor miscommunication,'" Wolfe wrote.

The Titans have acknowledged that an incident did occur involving Ridley at the airport, but the organization has not clarified what happened or what the nature of the situation might be. However, it is probably a certainty that no team is going to take a risk on trading for Ridley until more details are revealed. With the deadline just over 24 hours away, it seems like he will be staying in Tennessee.

Ridley has had a bit of a bizarre career. He was initially drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He was in Atlanta through 2022 and was an All-Pro with the Falcons, but he did get in trouble for gambling and he was suspended for the entire 2022 season. During his suspension, he was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars, he had a decent season with Jacksonville in 2023 as he recorded over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns.

He signed a big four-year contract during the 2024 offseason, so he is locked up through 2027 on his current deal. He seemed like a likely trade candidate, but not anymore. He hasn't really been a part of the rotation at receiver for Tennessee, so he will surely be quiet throughout the remainder of the year. In 2026 he has caught just six passes.

Steelers Have To Find A Different Trade Target

Bringing in Ridley probably would not have moved the needle too much for the Steelers offense. The only truly great thing about Ridley would be the fact that he has a ton of experience in the NFL, and he has been successful. He could have been a player that Aaron Rodgers could trust immediately, but the organization will have to cross him off its list and go after a different playmaker. 

There is no doubt that the offense in Pittsburgh needs another piece, but it doesn't seem like that piece will be Ridley. This is probably for the best, as he is on the wrong side of 30 and has played meaningful football in a while.

What do you think about this news concerning Ridley? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

#SteelerNation