Steelers get a new update on Jaylen Waddle's availability

With a record of 5-3 and currently sitting in first place in the AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers look like a playoff team as the 2025 NFL season hits the halfway point. 

With Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET NFL trade deadline approaching, it remains to be seen whether or not the Steelers may look to upgrade the roster. At the time of this year's trade deadline for Pittsburgh, there have been plenty of rumors swirling around the team about a potential move at wide receiver. One of those wide receiver trade targets, per reports, is none other than Miami Dolphins speedster Jaylen Waddle.

However, according to insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Dolphins are not interested in trading away Waddle. Below is what Breer recently had to say specifically about the idea of Miami parting ways with one of its top offensive weapons.

"Teams asking about Jaylen Waddle have been flatly told no," Breer stated.

Waddle is in the prime of his career at age 26 and is a three-time 1,000-yard receiver. With the future of fellow Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill up in the air at this point, perhaps the organization will want to hold onto at least one of its key pass-catchers moving forward. While it might have appeared possible at first for a contending team like the Steelers to swing a trade for the top-level playmaker out of Miami, that type of move now appears to be off the table. 

However, the good news for the Steelers is that they already have something of an insurance policy in case they cannot make a move for a big name ahead of the trade deadline. The organization announced on Tuesday that it officially signed veteran wide receiver and two-time Super Bowl champion Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the practice squad. 

The eight-year veteran could be promoted to the active roster soon, giving offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who played with Valdes-Scantling for four years (2018-21) with the Green Bay Packers, another downfield threat.

Could Steelers look at other wide receivers?

Along with Waddle, there have been other potential wide receivers named in connection with the Steelers. Are they willing to part with draft capital to get a similar player to one they already have? Furthermore, could Valdes-Scantling be all that this offense needs to truly flourish? That is, if he can get promoted to the 53-man roster at some point in the coming days or weeks. 

While he hasn't posted the greatest numbers during his eight-year career, Valdes-Scantling has proved that he can be a serviceable big-play threat. In his career, he has averaged 17.3 yards per reception. His best season came in 2020 with Rodgers in Green Bay, when he recorded 33 receptions for a career-high 690 yards and six touchdowns. However, the key here is that he averaged an NFL-best 20.9 yards per catch. 

Even though this will be his fifth team in the last two seasons and even though he is now in his early 30s, he will have only one role to perform if added to the active roster. That role will be to put stress on the opposing defense. He will allow for fellow Steeler wide receivers such as DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin III, as well as tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith, to find windows in the holes of opposing defenses. 

Why should Steelers general manager Omar Khan need to send away draft picks when he might have his key addition sitting on the practice squad?