What the Steelers' inactivity at the trade deadline signals for their future

"Four hours before the 2025 NFL trade deadline Tuesday, Mike Tomlin responded to a question from the media about the Pittsburgh Steelers being "buyers" with a grin. "We'll see what happens," he said. "I like shopping." Turns out, the 53-year-old coach meant window shopping. The Steelers didn't make any additional moves before Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET cut off, leaving safety Kyle Dugger, whom they acquired in a late-round pick swap with the New England Patriots last week, as their lone in-season trade."

"A year ago, Tomlin called the moves made around the league's midseason trade deadline an "arms race" as Pittsburgh landed wide receiver Mike Williams and pass rusher Preston Smith. Neither, though, had a significant, lasting impact beyond their debut game against the Washington Commanders, and the moves cost the Steelers a fifth- and a seventh-round pick. This time around, though, the Steelers mostly held pat, unwilling to part with significant draft capital to further upgrade their secondary or enhance their wide receiver corps."

Four hours before the 2025 NFL trade deadline, Mike Tomlin said "We'll see what happens" and "I like shopping," but the Steelers made only a late-week trade for safety Kyle Dugger. Pittsburgh acquired Dugger in a late-round pick swap with the New England Patriots and made no other moves before the 4 p.m. ET cutoff. The team declined to surrender significant draft capital to upgrade the secondary or wide receiver group. Last year's midseason additions (Mike Williams and Preston Smith) had limited lasting impact and cost a fifth- and a seventh-round pick. The roster's advanced age also factors into a cautious approach.

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