Halloween is over, but NFL diehards are still anxiously holding their breath as the Trade Deadline looms around the corner. This year, with the deadline set a week later than usual, the anticipation for blockbuster deals has never been higher. The faithful fans out there are crossing their fingers that their team will make a move and get the proverbial plugs to fill the holes in their team’s roster. Below are my thoughts on what a few teams on the brink of being contenders could/will do to bolster their chances of success.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are currently drawing a lot of attention from the rest of the league, as they sit atop the AFC North. I can confidently say that few outside of Pittsburgh could have predicted a 6-2 start for the Steel City, but nevertheless, we all tip our caps to Mike Tomlin once again. What the Steelers end up doing at this moment in time will be very interesting. With a very uncertain future, no long-term option at quarterback, and stars on the defensive side of the ball reaching the end of their prime, Mike Tomlin might be embracing a “win now” mentality. Similar to the 2021 Super Bowl Champion Rams, the Steelers have a very real chance to push all their chips in to make a run at this year’s pot. Despite a small sample size, Russell Wilson is playing football at a very high level, enabled by talent, of course, but also by a phenomenal defense and an offense similar to what he ran in Seattle. He is a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, and Tomlin’s belief in him all along tells me he is trying to cook up a run at this year’s big game. We will know how all-in Tomlin is within the next few days. I could see the Steelers pursuing whichever top wide receiver is on the market, maybe a Mike Williams type, and I could also see them making a push for help in the secondary. Tre’Davious White from the Rams could potentially provide some needed secondary help, but if we are pushing all our chips in, why not send the house for Budda Baker? The Steelers’ defense is already great, and if you add an All-Pro like Baker, we are talking real Steel Curtain-type stuff. I think as the Steelers advance into the meat of their schedule, we will see how real a team they are. If this offense continues to perform, and the defense gets an upgrade, I see nothing keeping them out of the playoffs. If Russ can truly return to form, the Steelers will have arguably the best quarterback-coach combination in most of their games, which says something significant about their potential.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are in a similar boat as the Steelers, with far more emphasis on the offense. Ladd McConkey is emerging out of his rookie awkwardness phase, and Quentin Johnston is coming off the injury report. This will help the offense regain somewhat of an identity, but it’s still not enough to compete with some of the more talented teams in the AFC. Throughout his career, Justin Herbert has been limited. Whether it was his poor defense at the beginning of his tenure as a Charger, poor coaching, or now virtually no offensive weapons, it seems as though he is always playing with a handicap. This isn’t glazing; it’s fact. He had one of the worst scoring defenses for many seasons and has run through more offensive coordinators and coaches than most. Now, however, a lot of that is figured out. Harbaugh is in, the defense is playing phenomenally, and the Bolts are a few pieces away from being very real contenders. If this were two years ago, with Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Austin Ekeler, look out. The onus is now on the Chargers’ front office to finish the puzzle. If I’m Joe Hortiz or the Spanos family, I’m doing whatever it takes to get Cooper Kupp. Though his availability is in question at this point, it’s an easy move on him, and he’s probably the closest thing in the league to what the Chargers are missing. If not Kupp, the Chargers need to inquire about a very talented #2. Jordan Addison, for example, is a name that comes to mind – someone in the league who is currently underutilized and could make a significant impact on this Los Angeles roster. The Spanos family has a history of being frugal with the team, but I’m hoping that the hiring of Harbaugh signaled a change in tide.
New England Patriots (I know nobody cares but I do, okay?)
Teams like the Patriots, with a 2-6 record, might look to sell off assets for future draft capital. It seems as though the Patriots are truly embracing a rebuild. Their slow, methodical approach to improving personnel suggests they are not very concerned with winning immediately. With that said, it is absolutely imperative for New England to make aggressive moves to acquire young to moderately young receiver talent. Kayshon Boutte is slowly emerging as the Patriots’ #1 receiver, a role many doubted he would secure due to both on-field and off-field issues. It is questionable whether Boutte would be a #2 or even a #3 option on another team at this point, making his emergence as the Patriots’ #1 receiver particularly startling. This development is a concerning sign for the Patriots’ offense, signaling a problem that has persisted for several seasons. I would argue that the Patriots have had the NFL’s worst wide receiver room for the past 3-4 years. I believe that the Patriots’ inability to draft at the Wide Receiver position makes the days leading up to the Trade Deadline even more critical.
– Tyler S @twoandahalfvirgins