The Pittsburgh Steelers drew criticism from former NFL general manager Ran Carthon for standing pat at the 2025 trade deadline, particularly for failing to acquire wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. Meyers was instead traded from the Las Vegas Raiders to the Jacksonville Jaguars for fourth- and sixth-round picks. The Steelers, sitting at 5-3 atop the AFC North, showed interest but did not complete a deal.
The NFL trade deadline on November 4, 2025, saw limited action for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who opted not to make any moves despite speculation around bolstering their receiving corps. Ran Carthon, appearing on CBS Sports HQ, singled out the Steelers as losers of the deadline. "I’m gonna go with the Pittsburgh Steelers," Carthon said. "For me, it’s the simple fact that I would’ve loved to see them target Jakobi Meyers. I thought he would’ve been a really good complement to DK Metcalf. To me, he is an upgrade over Roman Wilson." He added that Meyers' crisp route-running would provide Aaron Rodgers with a reliable target, potentially opening up the field for Metcalf.
Meyers, who requested a trade from the Raiders before the season, was ultimately dealt to the Jaguars, a team that had just defeated Las Vegas 30-29 in overtime during Week 9. The 28-year-old has recorded 33 catches for 352 yards in seven games this season, marking his fourth straight year with at least 800 receiving yards, including a 1,000-yard campaign in 2024. However, he struggled with new Raiders quarterback Geno Smith, who threw zero touchdowns and four interceptions on passes targeted to him. The Jaguars, now 5-3 and second in the AFC South behind the 7-2 Indianapolis Colts, acquire Meyers as a complement to Brian Thomas Jr. amid Travis Hunter's injured reserve stint. Thomas has caught just 50% of his targets this year, down from his rookie averages.
Reports indicated multiple teams, including the Steelers and Jaguars, inquired about Meyers. ESPN's Adam Schefter confirmed the trade details. Meanwhile, other top receivers like the Jets' Garrett Wilson and Dolphins' Jaylen Waddle drew interest but stayed put; the Jets rebuffed calls on Wilson, while Miami sought a first-round pick plus for Waddle. Steelers general manager Omar Khan appears to have prioritized preserving draft capital, especially with the team's defense identified as a bigger concern than the offense, which has been steadied by Rodgers.
