Steelers Have One Priority Before Trade Deadline

If the Pittsburgh Steelers are in a position to add players at the trade deadline, it seems they're more likely to focus on the defensive side of the ball over the offense.

In a column for ESPN ahead of Week 4, insider Dan Graziano stated that he feels as though Pittsburgh has moved off of its pursuit for another wide receiver for the time being and instead could focus on bringing in another defender to help a unit that's scuffling at the moment while also dealing with a ton of injuries.

"I feel the Steelers have pivoted a bit, and if they make an in-season move, it would more likely be to help their struggling defense," Graziano wrote.

The Steelers' priority in the latter stages of the offseason was acquiring another receiver to help boost the depth of a position group that's top-heavy with the likes of DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin III, but they struck out across the board. Instead, they signed Isaiah Hodgins to their practice squad last week, and perhaps he could see some playing time in the future.

The defense, outside of the second safety spot next to DeShon Elliott, wasn't much of a concern for Pittsburgh leading into the regular season. The organization traded for Jalen Ramsey and signed both Darius Slay Jr. and Brandin Echols to solidify its cornerback room while drafting defensive lineman Derrick Harmon in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Additionally, they either extended or reworked the contracts of T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward and Elliott as a means of locking in a trio of key pieces for this year and beyond.