The trade deadline came and went with the Steelers not making any final moves. Barring any rare external additions through players who will become free agents before the season comes to an end, this is the group Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan are riding with the rest of the way.
That being said, there were two additions ahead of the deadline. Last week, the Steelers acquired Kyle Dugger from the Patriots, who made an immediate impact. He was thrust onto the proverbial moving train and played all but one of the 78 defensive snaps in the game. If that's not impressive enough, he did it while the defense underwent significant schematic changes and still played a solid football game.
"We're just getting to know him. We certainly respect the fact he's a veteran player and he certainly displayed signs that he was capable in our practice sessions leading up to Sunday, but stadiums are somewhat different," Tomlin said Tuesday during his press conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. "Just in general in terms of putting eyes on him, his fluidity of movement, adjusting to pre-snap shifts, motions and the hair trigger that you saw at or just instantly after the snap gave me an indication that he was comfortable, knew what he was looking at, and that he was going to be okay."
Earlier in the day, the Steelers also added Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the practice squad. Before anyone believes this is the big WR2 move, it's not. Yes, Aaron Rodgers last week called him one of his favorite teammates of all time, but this is not a needle-moving addition. Tomlin was very clear that Dugger was a trade deadline move and adding MVS is not.
"He's just a practice squader right now," Tomlin said. "Get him in the fold and get him working. Check his overall level of conditioning, how he learns and some of those things. It is not the Dugger discussion. He's just a practice squad guy."
So, why stand pat? Why be okay with the current group?
One thing that I know is very important to Khan is getting past the one-year answers at quarterback. Throughout the draft process this past offseason, I had many conversations with several people on the inside. They are all tired of having to address quarterback every offseason. Rodgers has met all expectations and provided the best quarterback play this team has had since before Ben Roethlisberger's arm exploded in 2019. But, Khan is fixated on a long-term answer at quarterback and it being the only way forward for this franchise. No more one-year fixes. I know for a fact that he's prioritized this.
So, what does that have to do with this year's team? After all, the Steelers have eight draft picks next year with the potential of four more coming via the compensatory formula. Currently, this is what the 2026 assets look like:
• First round • Second round • Third round • Third round (Dallas) - George Pickens trade • Third round compensatory pick (Dan Moore Jr.) • Fourth round • Fourth round compensatory pick (Justin Fields) • Fifth round • Sixth round compensatory pick (Russell Wilson) • Sixth round compensatory pick (Donte Jackson) • Seventh round • Seventh round (New England) - Dugger trade
Jakobi Meyers cost the Jaguars fourth- and sixth-round picks. Rashid Shaheed cost the Seahawks fourth- and fifth-round picks. Khan didn't want to match or even exceed the asking price on either player?
Obviously not.
But, why?!
First, if the Steelers are going to get their next franchise quarterback, it'll most likely require a trade up into or close to the top 10. When the Chiefs drafted Patrick Mahomes, they went 12-4 the season prior and were picking 27th overall. They parted with a current first-, future first- and current third-round picks to move up to 10th overall to take him.
For the sake of argument, let's just say it costs the Steelers that same amount to move up to get their guy, whoever it is. Great, they still have two third-round picks and seven picks on Day 3 of the draft. Why is it so important to hold onto that many picks?
The second reason: Flexibility to do whatever it takes to support that potential quarterback pick. Getting the quarterback isn't enough. He needs the support of a strong roster. When Roethlisberger was drafted, he inherited a great situation. He had a strong offensive line with a great duo at running back and a pair of great receivers. He also had a great defense.
Conversely, look at what Bryce Young has had around him in Carolina since he was drafted first overall in 2023.
This Steelers roster isn't quite a Super Bowl caliber team. Some of it requires patience, specifically waiting for younger players -- specifically the offensive line -- to develop. But, they could still use a few more pieces. That could be in the draft. Next year's receiver class is supposed to be much deeper than last year's group. What if they are able to get a stud receiver in the second round that costs a whole lot less than whatever it would take to acquire and re-sign Meyers or Shaheed?
Also, what if neither Meyers or Shaheed indicated they wanted to sign a new contract before hitting free agency? That'd be draft picks given away for a rental, and only teams that are truly all in on a season should be pulling off such moves.
And that's a perfect point to end on. No, the Steelers are not all in. They never were. This was only a narrative sung by the screaming heads on TV and loudest voices on social media. The Steelers are always trying to complete. Khan has proven he will be aggressive in making moves to improve the roster. But, he's not made such moves that will also sacrifice the future. He parted with a second-round pick to acquire DK Metcalf, but that wouldn't have been done without the five-year, $150 million contract to keep him around. It was a move for the future, not for just 2025.
The time to go all in is when all the pieces are in place to truly make a run at a Super Bowl. That often requires the main centerpiece to be 1) at a position of great significance 2) in their prime. In the NFL, that's almost always the quarterback. And, nothing against Rodgers, but that's not what they have right now.
If the quarterback they draft in the first round next year or the year after shows he's the legitimate answer, you'll see Khan make the "all in" moves to support that player. For now, Khan will continue to make moves to improve the roster, but not any that risks the future.
As much as Khan wants to win this year, he isn't being shortsighted. He knows the future is more important than making fans feel better on some random Tuesday in November. And come next April, you just might be thanking Khan that he didn't waste draft picks on players that might have only spent several weeks on a team that most likely wouldn't have been competing for a Super Bowl, with or without them.
THE ASYLUM
Future more important than winning trade deadline
The trade deadline came and went with the Steelers not making any final moves. Barring any rare external additions through players who will become free agents before the season comes to an end, this is the group Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan are riding with the rest of the way.
That being said, there were two additions ahead of the deadline. Last week, the Steelers acquired Kyle Dugger from the Patriots, who made an immediate impact. He was thrust onto the proverbial moving train and played all but one of the 78 defensive snaps in the game. If that's not impressive enough, he did it while the defense underwent significant schematic changes and still played a solid football game.
"We're just getting to know him. We certainly respect the fact he's a veteran player and he certainly displayed signs that he was capable in our practice sessions leading up to Sunday, but stadiums are somewhat different," Tomlin said Tuesday during his press conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. "Just in general in terms of putting eyes on him, his fluidity of movement, adjusting to pre-snap shifts, motions and the hair trigger that you saw at or just instantly after the snap gave me an indication that he was comfortable, knew what he was looking at, and that he was going to be okay."
Earlier in the day, the Steelers also added Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the practice squad. Before anyone believes this is the big WR2 move, it's not. Yes, Aaron Rodgers last week called him one of his favorite teammates of all time, but this is not a needle-moving addition. Tomlin was very clear that Dugger was a trade deadline move and adding MVS is not.
"He's just a practice squader right now," Tomlin said. "Get him in the fold and get him working. Check his overall level of conditioning, how he learns and some of those things. It is not the Dugger discussion. He's just a practice squad guy."
So, why stand pat? Why be okay with the current group?
One thing that I know is very important to Khan is getting past the one-year answers at quarterback. Throughout the draft process this past offseason, I had many conversations with several people on the inside. They are all tired of having to address quarterback every offseason. Rodgers has met all expectations and provided the best quarterback play this team has had since before Ben Roethlisberger's arm exploded in 2019. But, Khan is fixated on a long-term answer at quarterback and it being the only way forward for this franchise. No more one-year fixes. I know for a fact that he's prioritized this.
So, what does that have to do with this year's team? After all, the Steelers have eight draft picks next year with the potential of four more coming via the compensatory formula. Currently, this is what the 2026 assets look like:
• First round
• Second round
• Third round
• Third round (Dallas) - George Pickens trade
• Third round compensatory pick (Dan Moore Jr.)
• Fourth round
• Fourth round compensatory pick (Justin Fields)
• Fifth round
• Sixth round compensatory pick (Russell Wilson)
• Sixth round compensatory pick (Donte Jackson)
• Seventh round
• Seventh round (New England) - Dugger trade
Jakobi Meyers cost the Jaguars fourth- and sixth-round picks. Rashid Shaheed cost the Seahawks fourth- and fifth-round picks. Khan didn't want to match or even exceed the asking price on either player?
Obviously not.
But, why?!
First, if the Steelers are going to get their next franchise quarterback, it'll most likely require a trade up into or close to the top 10. When the Chiefs drafted Patrick Mahomes, they went 12-4 the season prior and were picking 27th overall. They parted with a current first-, future first- and current third-round picks to move up to 10th overall to take him.
For the sake of argument, let's just say it costs the Steelers that same amount to move up to get their guy, whoever it is. Great, they still have two third-round picks and seven picks on Day 3 of the draft. Why is it so important to hold onto that many picks?
The second reason: Flexibility to do whatever it takes to support that potential quarterback pick. Getting the quarterback isn't enough. He needs the support of a strong roster. When Roethlisberger was drafted, he inherited a great situation. He had a strong offensive line with a great duo at running back and a pair of great receivers. He also had a great defense.
Conversely, look at what Bryce Young has had around him in Carolina since he was drafted first overall in 2023.
This Steelers roster isn't quite a Super Bowl caliber team. Some of it requires patience, specifically waiting for younger players -- specifically the offensive line -- to develop. But, they could still use a few more pieces. That could be in the draft. Next year's receiver class is supposed to be much deeper than last year's group. What if they are able to get a stud receiver in the second round that costs a whole lot less than whatever it would take to acquire and re-sign Meyers or Shaheed?
Also, what if neither Meyers or Shaheed indicated they wanted to sign a new contract before hitting free agency? That'd be draft picks given away for a rental, and only teams that are truly all in on a season should be pulling off such moves.
And that's a perfect point to end on. No, the Steelers are not all in. They never were. This was only a narrative sung by the screaming heads on TV and loudest voices on social media. The Steelers are always trying to complete. Khan has proven he will be aggressive in making moves to improve the roster. But, he's not made such moves that will also sacrifice the future. He parted with a second-round pick to acquire DK Metcalf, but that wouldn't have been done without the five-year, $150 million contract to keep him around. It was a move for the future, not for just 2025.
The time to go all in is when all the pieces are in place to truly make a run at a Super Bowl. That often requires the main centerpiece to be 1) at a position of great significance 2) in their prime. In the NFL, that's almost always the quarterback. And, nothing against Rodgers, but that's not what they have right now.
If the quarterback they draft in the first round next year or the year after shows he's the legitimate answer, you'll see Khan make the "all in" moves to support that player. For now, Khan will continue to make moves to improve the roster, but not any that risks the future.
As much as Khan wants to win this year, he isn't being shortsighted. He knows the future is more important than making fans feel better on some random Tuesday in November. And come next April, you just might be thanking Khan that he didn't waste draft picks on players that might have only spent several weeks on a team that most likely wouldn't have been competing for a Super Bowl, with or without them.
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