Photo: steelers.com
Six games, four victories, but a haunting October has questions circling as to whether the Pittsburgh Steelers are playoff contenders. After an impressive 4-1 start, the Black and Gold faithful had every right to dream big ahead of their Week 6 trip to AFC North rival Cincinnati.
Then, the veteran Joe Flacco, a relic turned slayer, marshaled the Bengals to a stunning upset victory, and the Green Bay Packers exploded in the second half of Sunday Night Football, exposing cracks in the Steelers defense that had been papered over until that point.
The current alarm bells ringing around the Steel City aren’t just courtesy of recent losses. They are sounding out courtesy of offensive predictability, a glaring dearth of auxiliary weaponry, and the sobering reality that a playoff-caliber quarterback—Aaron Rodgers—cannot turn water into wine alone. Don’t just take our word for it; take that of online live betting sites.
Before the trip to Paycor Stadium, the Steelers were an odds-on favorite to win the division. Now, the latest Bovada live betting odds price them at +130, still the favorites, but not outright. The Ravens are positioned at +130, despite their paltry 1-6 start and injury issues decimating their starting lineup. As such, then, something must change fast if Pittsburgh is to build on its impressive start and become a genuine contender.
Head coach Mike Tomlin opened his press conference discussing offense, however, and it would appear after a trade for New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger that Steelers GM Omar Khan could set his sights on giving Aaron Rodgers more help.
Scratch past the surface of Pittsburgh’s passing stats and you find an uncomfortable truth for a franchise that measures itself in Lombardi Trophies. DK Metcalf, the headline act with 461 yards, ranks outside the NFL’s top 20 receivers—a respectable number, but not a statistic that keeps defensive coordinators awake at night. It only gets gloomier further down the stat sheet, with Calvin Austin’s injury impacting the offense further and Roman Wilson, last year’s third round draft pick, chipping away at playing time after missing most of 2024.
So what’s next, with the trade buzzer looming? Here are some names that could be available for a shocking shake up at the trade deadline.
Few players generate as much feverish deadline fantasy as A.J. Brown. The rumors of his potential departure from the champion Philadelphia Eagles have gone from embers to open flame, with mock trades pairing Steelers Pat Freiermuth and Alex Highsmith with the City of Brotherly Love in exchange for Brown’s explosiveness. Put simply, the 28-year-old is the type of talent who could tip the scales of an entire AFC playoff race—and everyone knows it, not least the Eagles.
But the ultimate question lingers: are the Eagles truly ready to break up their double-digit win core?
While Brown is somewhat underappreciated in Philly, as demonstrated by his measly 29 receptions so far this term, all reliable reporting points to a firm “not now” when it comes to the Eagles cashing in. The cost of could be astronomical, likely involving a first-rounder, a key starter, or both, but drama in the locker room has heightened the spectacle.
Does Brown change the odds for Pittsburgh if somehow acquired? Without question. He has ties to both offensive Arthur Smith (with the Titans) and was Metcalf’s college roomate. But the probabilities hover in the realm of wishful thinking.
Welcome to the 25/26 season AJ Brown!
ATD scorer +180 ✅
— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) September 21, 2025
While Brown’s star power dominates headlines, Jakobi Meyers is the counterweight—the steady professional who gets open, moves chains, and solves headaches.
This is a case of timing and temperament. The Raiders are floundering, Meyers has “for sure” demanded a trade, and Pittsburgh—by all accounts—would love nothing more than to poach a proven receiver who’s built for AFC North weather and pressure.
What sets Meyers apart? Reliability. Twelve contested catches last season, just two drops, and a knack for finding soft spots on third down. Rodgers, a master of ball placement, would unlock Meyers’ full complement of skills.
The price is right, too: Raiders’ brass, staring down another lost season, may deal for a mid-round pick. This is less about glamor and more about fit—a transaction that makes Sunday nights simpler and December football more lethal.
The NFL rewards audacity as much as calculation. Enter Jaylen Waddle—a 26-year-old blur whose name has surfaced in both front-office whispers and public trade blocks. With Miami teetering at 2-6 and already down an injured Tyreek Hill and Darren Waller, the air is thick with speculation: might the Dolphins actually sell if the right offer emerges?
For Pittsburgh, Waddle presents both a risk and an irresistible upside.
Picture this: Rodgers aligns Metcalf wide, Waddle in motion, and defenses scattered, overwhelmed by the threat of a deep ball on every snap. With 18.1 yards per catch in 2024 and the kind of separation skills that make DBs look stone-footed, Waddle would force opponents to prioritize speed over scheme—an advantage the Steelers haven’t enjoyed in years.
Does Miami want to move on? Word is, not proactively. But the playbook is fluid when franchises face the abyss; Waddle is the kind of asset who could draw a serious haul. If Pittsburgh’s brass is in “win now” mode, this is the swing for the fences that defines legacies.
