Steelers should target two positions at NFL trade deadline

Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan has shown himself to be very aggressive when it comes to building his roster, dipping into the trade market and free agent market far more often than his predecessor, Kevin Colbert.

With the Steelers sitting at 4-2 in the AFC playoff race and facing a big set of three consecutive home games they have a chance to make some impactful moves. If Khan can swing a deal or two before Tuesday's Oct. 31 trade deadline it would go a long way toward solidifying some key spots on their roster. 

There are two positions that really stand out as potential needs.

The first is at cornerback where the Steelers have an interesting mix of veterans (Levi Wallace and Patrick Peterson) and an up-and-coming rookie in Joey Porter Jr. 

Porter Jr. has proven to be a quick study at the NFL level and has steadily earned more and more playing time as the season has gone, consistently making big plays in coverage every time he is on the field. But the two players still ahead of him on the depth chart -- veterans Wallace and Peterson -- have not played consistently or up to their big salaries for the season. Wallace especially has been picked on by opposing quarterbacks and has struggled to limit big plays in coverage.

Peterson, a free agent signing this past offseason from Minnesota, has also shown some limitations now that he is 33 years old and closing in on the end of his career. 

One potential option for a blockbuster would be trying to acquire Denver's Patrick Surtain II if the Broncos decide to sell aggressively. Surtain II would not come cheap given his talent and production, not to mention the fact he is still on a rookie contract through the end of the 2024 season. But adding a player like him alongside Porter Jr. would give the Steelers a dynamic young cornerback duo that could really strengthen the secondary. 

The other position the Steelers should consider looking into is tight end. 

Starter Pat Freiermuth is expected to be sidelined for multiple weeks, and the team does not seem to fully trust the depth behind him. Rookie Darnell Washington is regarded as an excellent blocker but has not yet been incorporated into the passing game. Second-year player Connor Heyward has shown flashes of potential early in his career but is still adapting to the position after playing more of an H-back role in college. 

The Athletic's Mark Kaboly produced a list of potential options for the Steelers this week, ranging from New England's duo of Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki, as well as Arizona's Zach Ertz depending on his health after he was just placed on Injured Reserve for the next couple of weeks. 

Even with their struggles offensively the Steelers are still very much in the AFC playoff race (as well as the AFC North divisional race) and could really make a statement with a big trade before Tuesday.