Category: Steelers trade scenarios

AFC North rival trades away star DE at deadline

The Cleveland Browns have traded away their star DE Za’Darius Smith to the Detroit Lions at the trade deadline.

While three-quarters of the AFC North continue to build up their rosters for potential playoff runs, the Cleveland Browns appear to be selling their 2024 seasonal aspirations, as the team has traded away one of their star players at the trade deadline.

Cleveland is sending DE Za’Darius Smith and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick to the Detroit Lions in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round and a 2026 sixth-round draft pick, per insider Ian Rapoport.

Considering how talented and established Smith is off the edge, the Lions have been gifted the deal of a lifetime. Detroit was in dire need of an edge rusher, as their elite DE Aiden Hutchinson suffered a season-ending broken left tibia in Week 6.

Will Cleveland continue to sell their 2024 roster as the 4:00 PM EST deadline inches ever closer? While it appears to be another case of Juju Smith-Schuster’s infamous line, ‘the Browns is the Browns,’ Pittsburgh is likely laser-focused on the trade deadline themselves, as the team has been linked to both wide receiver trade targets and defensive depth in recent days.

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AFC North rival strengthens run game with RB trade at deadline

The Cincinnati Bengals have made a trade with the Chicago Bears to acquire RB Khalil Herbert in an attempt to solve their running game woes.

The trade deadline is finally here, and it appears the Cincinnati Bengals, AFC North rivals of Pittsburgh, couldn’t wait any longer for today’s festivities, as the team has made a trade with the Chicago Bears to acquire RB Khalil Herbert in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick, per insider Tom Pelissero.

The trade came just one day after Cincinnati’s Head Coach Zac Taylor announced that the team’s RB Zack Moss would be out indefinitely with a neck injury. This move boosts not only their run game but also the depth behind newly announced starting RB Chase Brown.

Considered by many to be dark horse candidates to challenge the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North divisional title race, the 4-5 Bengals have bolstered what was once one of their weakest areas on offense, creating a two-headed RB monster with the addition of Herbert.

Will Pittsburgh make a blockbuster trade at the deadline to keep up with the rest of the AFC, or will the team see the deadline as an opportunity to acquire solid depth?

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Insider predicts Steelers to upgrade defense at trade deadline

Steelers insider Gerry Dulac believes Pittsburgh could have their eyes on defensive players at the trade deadline, primarily edge rushers.

The day has finally arrived—the exciting trade deadline!  Several analysts, players, and fans believed the Pittsburgh Steelers would be heavily involved in acquiring wide receivers at the trade deadline; however, one insider thinks that is unlikely. Steelers insider Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette predicts the team will use the trade deadline to bolster the defense, focusing on depth concerns.

Appearing on the Randy Baumann & the DVE Morning Show, Dulac stated that “I do think they might make a deal to improve their depth, and you could look at maybe certain positions where they are lacking a little depth.” He mentioned concerns with edge rushers and cornerbacks.

This aligns with relevant issues, as OLB Nick Herbig is dealing with a serious hamstring injury, and OLB Alex Highsmith recently returned from an injury in Week 3.

Whether Pittsburgh should make the safe trade or the exciting one remains to be seen. However, the trade deadline on November 5th at 4:00 PM EST is around the corner, and fans of the Black and Gold will soon know what the team’s roster will look like in the second half of the 2024 season.

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Steelers fans react to D.K. Metcalf trade rumors

Fans of the Black and Gold are in a trade rumor frenzy after Steelers RB Cordarrelle Patterson teased the recruitment of WR D.K Metcalf.

Speculation and trade rumors are beginning to reach an all-time high as the November 5th trade deadline, at 4:00 PM EST, is less than one day away. While the Pittsburgh Steelers have been rumored to pursue any and all available wide receivers, such as Carolina Panthers’ Adam Thielen and New York Jets’ Mike Williams, the most recent and perhaps most exciting rumor involves none other than Seattle Seahawks’ former All-Pro WR D.K. Metcalf.

Fans of the Steel City erupted on social media when Steelers RB Cordarrelle Patterson, who has been actively recruiting several receivers for the team in recent weeks, seemingly began to recruit Metcalf following Seattle’s Week 9 loss.

It was rumored that Seattle could consider moving on from their star WR with a Week 9 defeat, but could Steelers General Manager Omar Khan be the hero of Pittsburgh, and bring this elite talent to the Steel City? Only time will tell, but here are some of the best fan reactions to the speculation and rumors.

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Cordarrelle Patterson seemingly recruits All-Pro WR to Pittsburgh

Days before the trade deadline, Cordarrelle Patterson recently hinted at recruiting D.K. Metcalf to Pittsburgh, fueling speculation.

Where there’s proverbial trade smoke, there’s bound to be speculative fire. Pittsburgh Steelers RB Cordarrelle Patterson has more than stirred up trade rumors in the Steel City, as he has previously and publicly attempted to recruit several veteran WRs to Pittsburgh, including Davante Adams and Mike Williams. He hilariously teased fans a little over a week ago about whom to pursue next. However, his most recent attempt is none other than former All-Pro WR D.K. Metcalf. 

While fans typically take Patterson’s recruitment tactics with a grain of salt, with only a few days until the trade deadline, could Pittsburgh actually be in trade talks with the Seattle Seahawks regarding Metcalf? 

The Seahawks lost their Week 9 matchup to the Rams, relinquishing their control over the NFC West to the now first place Arizona Cardinals. Could the 4-5 Seahawks consider trading one of their top receivers, if the price is right, to the Pittsburgh Steelers? General Manager Omar Khan could orchestrate one of the biggest blockbuster trades of the season, and acquiring Metcalf would propel Pittsburgh into Super Bowl contender status.

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Pittsburgh radio host paints intriguing Steelers trade scenario

Andrew Fillipponi, host of 93.7 The Fan, painted an intriguing Steelers trade scenario, sparking fan discussion as the trade deadline nears

The results of Week 9’s contests, considered by most to have the greatest implications before the November 5th trade deadline, are beginning to shape the entire landscape of the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers trade rumors. 

The Carolina Panthers, despite defeating the New Orleans Saints 23-22 just days before the trade deadline, are still 2-7 on the season and will likely continue to seek potential trade partners to offload some of their veteran talent. 

Andrew Filliponi, host of the Pittsburgh sports-focused radio station 93.7 The Fan, envisioned an interesting and highly possible trade scenario in which the Steelers acquire veteran WR Adam Thielen from the Carolina Panthers. 

Could Thielen’s health situation compare to that of Davante Adams’ ‘hamstring injury’, with Carolina potentially being cautious and limiting their WR’s play to avoid any complications in a potential trade with Pittsburgh? With only a few days left before the Steelers are locked out of making trades for the 2024 season, Pittsburgh will need to act quickly to strengthen their bid for a deep playoff run this season.

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Steelers making calls on multiple WRs at trade deadline, per insider

Insider Adam Schefter brings good news for Steelers fans—potential wide receiver trade targets who could end up in Pittsburgh.

In what has been an up-and-down week for Pittsburgh trade rumors, to say the least, fans of the Steel City are getting a positive update for a change. Insider Adam Schefter reported that the Pittsburgh Steelers have been in contact with teams to trade for any available wide receiver at the trade deadline.

Schefter continued to name two wide receivers and previously rumored trade targets—Carolina Panthers’ WR Adam Thielen and New York Jets’ WR Mike Williams.

While the Carolina Panthers are expected to sell heavily at the trade deadline, the New York Jets may wait to see how the AFC playoff picture takes shape after Week 9’s games before making any potential moves.

The 34-year-old Thielen is well beyond the prime of his career but could provide Pittsburgh with a veteran presence in the wide receiver room.

Williams, however, may still have plenty of gas left in the tank, as when healthy, the WR is a force to be reckoned with.

Will Pittsburgh pull the trigger on any WR trade, or at this point, is making any trade before the deadline simply a pipe dream?

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Steelers fans react to devastating trade target injury news

Steelers fans passionately reacted to the trade news regarding the Steelers almost trading for WR Christian Kirk before his injury.

Teams around the NFL were acquiring receivers via trade left and right, and the Steelers, perhaps the most WR-needy team of them all, made no moves whatsoever.

On Friday, fans of the Steel City received an update from insider Adam Schefter on the Pittsburgh WR trade rumors, and it was heartbreaking, to say the least.

Schefter reported that the Steelers were close to acquiring WR Christian Kirk from the Jacksonville Jaguars just before his season-ending collarbone injury against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8.

Fans can still hold onto hope for other prominent veteran WRs on the trade market; however, a player of Kirk’s caliber could have been exactly what the 6-2 Steelers needed.

The Black and Gold faithful continue to lobby for the Steelers to acquire additional talent, but some have given up hope after hearing the awful news. Here are some of the passionate fan responses to the news on social media.

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WR’s season-ending injury halted trade to Pittsburgh, per insider

According to insider Adam Schefter, WR Christian Kirk’s season-ending injury halted a probable trade to Pittsburgh.

Steelers fans eagerly awaiting Pittsburgh to make a potential blockbuster trade almost got their wish, according to insider Adam Schefter.

Schefter reported on Saturday afternoon that league sources indicated that, prior to Jacksonville Jaguars WR Christian Kirk’s collarbone injury, the Steelers had a “reasonable chance” of finally pulling off a WR trade.

Kirk has accumulated 5,176 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns in his 93 career games played.

The report from Schefter makes complete sense, as fans were perplexed when WR trades were taking place left and right in the league, yet the Steelers were not among the teams making them. Losing the team’s primary trade target to injury is extremely unfortunate, and it remains to be seen if General Manager Omar Khan can pull off a WR trade before the deadline on November 5th.

Pittsburgh has until Tuesday, November 5th, at 4:00 PM EST to finalize any trades. Will Khan help build an unstoppable receiving corps before the deadline, or will the team continue to rely on WR Calvin Austin III and WR Van Jefferson opposite WR George Pickens?

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Could potential trade target give Pittsburgh three-headed RB monster?

While WR is a big area of concern for Pittsburgh at the trade deadline, the team should inquire about Chicago’s RB Khalil Herbert.

The Steelers’ RB room could go from great, to unstoppable with a potential trade for Chicago Bears RB Khalil Herbert.  Fans of the Steel City understand the team’s identity on offense and what they do well—running the football.  Third-string Steelers’ RB and kick returner, Cordarrelle Patterson, has been injured for the past four Steelers’ contests, forcing the the team to rely on practice squad elevations to alleviate depth concerns.

Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren form one of the most deadly rushing attack tandems in the league today, and a cheap trade for Herbert could make this Steelers offense even deadlier.

As Herbert has been used sparingly by Chicago, he would likely be relatively cheap to acquire. Steelers’ General Manager Omar Khan has a track record of acquiring great talent for far less than their expected market value, and Herbert could be seen as a layup for the Pittsburgh GM.

An acquisition of Herbert takes nothing away from the team’s need for a WR trade at the November 5th deadline, but makes all the difference in adding another dynamic playmaker to the running game.

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