With the trade deadline rapidly approaching, ESPN recently discussed the roster needs and trade candidates of all 32 NFL teams — which includes a bold prediction for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Days away from the November 4 deadline, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell linked WR Roman Wilson, S Chuck Clark, and RB Kaleb Johnson as trade candidates — as well as listing wide receiver, linebacker, and cornerback as Pittsburgh’s biggest needs.
“Of course, this secondary is full of guys who are only a couple of years removed from being standouts, and the Steelers aren’t getting what they hoped out of veterans such as Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, and Juan Thornhill,” Barnwell wrote. “They need more out of their cornerbacks and inside linebackers with Patrick Queen struggling, but those guys are locked into roles and aren’t going to be replaced until the offseason.
Could Pittsburgh be more aggressive in trying to get Aaron Rodgers one more playmaker at running back or wide receiver as it tries to win a title with the 41-year-old? Maybe. The Steelers do have an extra third-round pick in the upcoming draft after the George Pickens trade, so maybe that leaves GM Omar Khan with a little more flexibility to ship out a Day 3 pick for the right player.”
Barnwell hit the nail right on the head regarding team needs, with the exception of linebacker, as the Steelers boast one of the deepest units in the NFL led by Patrick Queen, with Payton Wilson and Cole Holcomb competing for reps.
Many fans have clamored for Pittsburgh to make a big splash at wide receiver ahead of the NFL deadline, but likely not at the expense of Johnson — whose inclusion by ESPN as a trade candidate after being selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft is shocking, to say the least.
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