AFC Trade Could Allow Steelers To Fix Depleted Secondary Thanks To Problem In New England

Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers got a massive update on Tuesday when it was announced that starting safety DeShon Elliott hyperextended his knee, rather than tearing any crucial ligaments. Head Coach Mike Tomlin labeled the veteran as week-to-week, but any amount of time lost will be a big blow because of how the defense has played in recent weeks. The trade deadline commences on November 4th, and while acquiring a wide receiver may make a ton of sense, the backend on the other side of the ball may somehow be a more pressing concern.

The Steelers wouldn't likely be expected to make some kind of blockbuster trade for a cornerback or safety, but the need is there, so General Manager Omar Khan could be interested in adding depth to an area that is currently hurting. Regardless of how long Elliott is out, it's his second knee injury of the season, which could cause some worry in the front office.

Some teams will be highlighted more than others as the deadline approaches and the Steelers should be one of them at the top of headlines. Tomlin and co. lead the AFC North, but need some help in a few spots. Making a move, or multiple, could be in the cards for Khan because of the expectation that the organization has extra draft capital in 2026.

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter recently hosted an episode of his show, The Adam Schefter Podcast, and went into some detail about what fans can expect leading up to, and just after, Week 9 games occur. An interesting name came up that could potentially be on the Steelers' radar. The New England Patriots, a fellow AFC foe, are expected to part ways with a veteran defensive player.

"The Patriots have been open to moving off of their former franchise, or transition safety, Kyle Dugger," Schefter said. "We'll see if that happens. I'd bet he is no longer a Patriot by the time the trade deadline comes around on Tuesday, November 4th."

Kyle Dugger was drafted in the second round by the Patriots back in 2020. There have been murmurs of late regarding his availability as a trade piece, and it appears as if one of the most respected insiders in all of football is planning for New England to deal him. It would be more beneficial to the franchise to send him out to the NFC, but sometimes, that is completely out of a front office's control. Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf has a decision to make.

The Steelers may not be as desperate as they may have been when it seemed as if Elliott's injury would be season-ending, but him missing a couple of games (at best) is still a reminder that depth is important. It can't hurt to bring in another formidable name, and while Pittsburgh hosted a pair of safeties on Tuesday, while signing another one, no trade target should be looked at as irrelevant.

Pittsburgh is sort of in limbo as Week 9 gets underway. The team is 4-3 with control of its division, but the schedule ahead is tough. A loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday may change Khan's mind when it comes to being aggressive at the deadline. Despite that fact, Dugger is an intriguing name to pay attention to because the Steelers' front office has been unpredictable in recent seasons.

Steelers Will Need To Be Cautiously Aggressive At The Trade Deadline

Pittsburgh's main goal every year is to win the AFC North, and then worry about the playoffs. That is attainable currently, even after a brutal two-game losing streak. Adding certain pieces to the depth chart could be what the locker room needs. Whether that be a wide receiver, safety, or potentially both, a guy like Dugger would be a nice addition if the price in New England is reasonable.