Paul Zeise: The Steelers desperately need to trade for a wide receiver

Paul Zeise, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Nov 3, 2025

Published in Football

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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers defense was impressive Sunday, as it dominated the high-powered Indianapolis Colts offense. That, in large part, is why they won 27-20 in a game most people had them pegged to lose.

The defense forced six turnovers, had five sacks, rendered Jonathan Taylor irrelevant and made Daniel Jones of the Colts look a lot like Daniel Jones of the New York Giants.

It was an incredible turnaround from the woeful performance of the previous two games against the Green Bay Packers and the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers defense showed when its stars perform, it can be as menacing as any defense in the NFL.

The Steelers offense was efficient, cashed in on some short fields and scored enough points to win the game. Efficient is good, for sure, but the Steelers offense left — and leaves — a lot to be desired.

I asked this question of several people, but how many points would the Colts have scored if they had six turnovers go their way? I would be willing to bet if that Colts offense was handed six turnovers and all of those short fields, it would have scored about 50 points and blown the Steelers off the field.

How about in the Steelers’ previous win over the Patriots, when the defense generated five turnovers and the offense scored only 21 points? How many points would the Patriots have scored that day if they had the 5-0 edge in turnovers? I am guessing a lot more than 27.

I am really not trying to be overly critical, but the reality is the offense is not good enough. It just isn’t, and had the defense not handed it so many short fields and delivered stops, the Steelers would have lost.

The Steelers had 225 total yards Sunday. They averaged 4.9 yards per pass and 1.7 yards per rush. Their longest passing play was 18 yards, and their $30 million receiver, DK Metcalf, had a total of two catches for 6 yards.

It is an offense that doesn’t scare anyone, doesn’t make many big plays and doesn’t even run the ball — the alleged bread and butter — very well. The run game is one thing and can improve as the offensive line improves, but the passing game won’t get better unless the Steelers go out and get another receiver, period.

I know they have this love affair with Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson and the group of tight ends, but take a closer look at Sunday’s game. It is pretty clear the Steelers offense lacks firepower. The four tight ends are all good at catching the ball, but none are going to run away from anyone.

And while there are some areas on offense, I suppose, with room for growth, the truth is the most glaring hole is at that second receiver position. The Colts showed if you can take away DK Metcalf, the Steelers offense isn’t scary at all.

Maybe some day Wilson will become a legitimate threat, but it’s not now, not this year, and the Steelers can’t afford to wait for him. Austin has proven to be a very reliable No. 3 or No. 4 receiver, but he is being miscast as a No. 2. He isn’t going to make anyone focus on him in order to take pressure off of Metcalf.

The Steelers are reportedly finally going to sign Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and while he does have a connection with Rodgers, he doesn’t necessarily make the Steelers better. I don’t think he is better at this point than Austin, to be quite honest.

There are plenty of receivers who are allegedly on the market, and I don’t care which one of them the Steelers go get. Brian Batko lists Jakobi Meyers, Calvin Ridley, Jaylen Waddle, Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson.

I know the price for a couple of those guys could be steep, but are the Steelers serious about winning the Super Bowl or are they not? Are they serious about improving their team for this year — with a 41-year old quarterback and a bunch of 30-somethings who might be on their last legs — or not?

That’s the question Omar Khan and Co. need to ask themselves, as do the Rooneys and anyone else in on the decision. Is this is a season when they are serious about making a run at the Super Bowl or not?

If it isn’t, then the Steelers should save all of their draft picks, stand pat and not try to improve the receiving corps. But if it isn’t, why the heck did they bring Aaron Rodgers here? Why did they go get Jonnu Smith, Jalen Ramsey and Metcalf?

The defense has shown at times it can be awful. But it has also shown that when the stars show up and are ready to play, it can be dominant enough to take over games and stop the best offenses in the NFL.

And that means this team can be good enough to win the Super Bowl, but it won’t unless the offense adds some firepower at the wide receiver position. It is nice they have 19 tight ends who all seem to catch the ball, but this team needs an impact player, a game breaker beyond Metcalf, and that player isn’t on the roster.

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