Gerry Dulac: Steelers are 'always buyers,' but is a deadline deal worth it this year?

Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Oct 29, 2025

Published in Football

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PITTSBURGH — The NFL trade deadline is one week away, and chances of the Steelers making a deal might have been better if they beat the Green Bay Packers.

But after losing Sunday night and facing the prospect of a third consecutive loss when they play the 7-1 Indianapolis Colts in five days, the Steelers might be less inclined to make a move before the Nov. 4 trade deadline.

Had they beat the Packers and then managed to slow the league’s highest-scoring team to get to 6-2 before the deadline, the Steelers might have be more inclined to make a trade for a player who could push them closer to the top teams in the AFC.

But the Steelers are far from that, even though they maintain a 1 1/2 game lead in the AFC North.

Granted, they could still make a trade, especially with the injury to safety DeShon Elliott, who could miss extended time after sustaining what coach Mike Tomlin called a “hyper-extended knee” injury. Tomlin said Elliott would not play against the Colts, which would have a big impact on the team’s ability to cover rookie Tyler Warren, who leads all NFL tight ends with 492 receiving yards.

Especially after the way Packers tight end Tucker Kraft sliced them for seven catches, 143 yards and two touchdowns.

“He's a significant component of what we do, particularly relative to some of the things that Indy does well,” Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. “He is a central figure in our secondary in terms of run defense, for example. He covers tight ends in passing circumstances, so certainly we have some adapting to do in terms of how we divide the labor up this week.”

To that end, though, they worked out a couple safeties Tuesday who have played in the AFC North — former Cincinnati Bengals No. 1 pick Vonn Bell and former Baltimore Ravens safety Eddie Jackson.

But, as for a trade, after bringing in five new secondary players in the offseason, especially at a steep price, the Steelers are unlikely to make any move of significance there.

“I think we're always open for business, particularly as we get close to the trade deadline,” Tomlin said. “We're always buyers. We are always trying to position ourselves to be the best we can be this year. But that not only applies to the secondary that you asked about, I'm sure that applies to all three phases of the game.”

On Monday, the Steelers worked out receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who played four seasons with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. But the Steelers do not intend to sign him this week. If they eventually do, it would likely preclude any additional move they might make at that position.

Part of the reason is what the Steelers have seen lately from Roman Wilson, who had two big catches against the Packers — a 45-yarder to set up a field goal and a 21-yard touchdown. He led the team with 74 receiving yards on four catches.

Also, with the number of different players used by offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, including four tight ends, the Steelers are not going to invest a mid-round pick on a receiver who might not play 20 snaps a game. Mike Williams averaged 19 snaps in nine games after he was acquired before the deadline last year.

Bad response

Tomlin said he agreed with Cam Heyward’s postgame assessment that the Steelers “don’t’ handle adversity” and that players started feeling sorry for themselves when penalties and big plays went against them.

“I don't think I like how we responded to the explosion plays, field-flipping plays, drive-producing, conversion-third downs that happened in the third quarter,” Tomlin said, referring to 57-yard and 33-yard completions by Jordan Love that led to touchdowns. “I didn't think our offense responded very well to the non-call on the first third down of the half.

“You don't always have control over what happens to you in-game, but rest assured some things are going to happen. There is ebb and flow over the course of 60 minutes. In that instance, as a collective, we feel like we didn't respond in the appropriate or desired way. We didn't produce the type of plays that counteract those things and get the balance back in our favor.”

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