The Pittsburgh Steelers made no moves at the 2025 NFL trade deadline, drawing criticism from former general manager Ran Carthon for failing to acquire wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. At 5-3 and atop the AFC North, the team relied on recent defensive adjustments, including the acquisition of safety Kyle Dugger, following a win over the Indianapolis Colts. Pittsburgh now prepares for a Week 10 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Pittsburgh Steelers chose inactivity at Tuesday's trade deadline, opting not to bolster their roster despite speculation linking them to several wide receivers. Former NFL general manager Ran Carthon labeled the Steelers as losers of the deadline, primarily for not pursuing Las Vegas Raiders wideout Jakobi Meyers, who was ultimately traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a fourth-round pick and a sixth-round pick.
"I’m gonna go with the Pittsburgh Steelers," Carthon said on CBS Sports HQ. "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."
Reports indicated the Steelers inquired about Meyers, but general manager Omar Khan held firm, preserving draft capital including up to a dozen picks in 2026. The team's only in-season trade was last week's acquisition of safety Kyle Dugger from the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick and a conditional seventh-rounder. Dugger played all but one defensive snap in Sunday's upset win over the Colts, contributing four tackles amid five forced turnovers that accounted for 24 of Pittsburgh's 27 points.
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and head coach Mike Tomlin have implemented key changes, moving Jalen Ramsey exclusively to free safety due to injuries, including DeShon Elliott's knee issue that landed him on injured reserve. Ramsey, acquired this summer in a deal that sent Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins, delivered a motivational team address before the Colts game. The updated depth chart lists Ramsey at free safety alongside Dugger at strong safety, with Brandin Echols starting at nickel corner.
Tomlin praised Dugger's "fluidity of movement" in practice and games, noting it indicated his quick adaptation. The Steelers' defense, rebounding from a two-game skid, faces consistency challenges ahead of Sunday's game at the Chargers, where quarterback Justin Herbert enters fully healthy unlike last season's matchup.
While receiver remains a positional weakness, Pittsburgh's offense ranks near the top-10 in points per game, leaning on tight ends Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, and Darnell Washington. The team signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the practice squad and released cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr., adding Daequan Hardy in his place.
