Leading up to Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, Pittsburgh Steelers rumors frequently connected them to a wide receiver. After all, the Steelers are 6-2, sitting in first place of the AFC North with a defense that ranks fourth in points allowed, but an offense ranking 17th in scoring. Running back Jaylen Warren is the team’s second-leading receiver with 294 yards. Needless to say, adding another playmaker is one way that the Steelers may have been able to crack their offense wide open.

Nevertheless, like a lot of teams, the Steelers stood pat at the trade deadline, opting against adding any players to the roster. Yet, that doesn’t mean they didn’t express interest in multiple receivers, from a three-time 1,000-yard receiver, to another coveted target who did get traded, but not to Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Steelers Showed Interest in Calvin Ridley and Josh Downs

The Steelers have been missing veterans Michael Pittman and Roman Wilson from the lineup, and both are expected back soon. Their statuses surely played a factor in the Steelers’ mindset ahead of the trade deadline.

Still, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the Steelers kicked the tires on trading for Calvin Ridley from the Tennessee Titans, who wasn’t moved, and Josh Downs from the Indianapolis Colts, who was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs along with a seventh-round pick in exchange for fourth and fifth-round selections in 2027.

“The Steelers were in the market for wide receiver help, and I was told they were in discussions with Tennessee about Calvin Ridley. But while the Titans dealt away a couple of key defensive players in Amani Hooker and Jeffery Simmons, they stayed true to their word about holding the offense together to give Cam Ward a chance to continue his development.”

Dan Graziano on Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers may regret not adding another proven playmaker for Aaron Rodgers to work with. Yet, it’s possible they felt like the cost was just too high for a half-season of work, particularly with Downs being on an expiring contract. As for Ridley, the Titans may not have wanted to move him, knowing it could impact former No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward’s continued development.

Yet, there’s always the chance that the Steelers turn to free agency in the next few weeks for someone like Tyreek Hill or Brandon Aiyuk too.