The Pittsburgh Steelers have dropped two straight games to the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers, slipping to 4-3 but still holding the top spot in the AFC North. While the defense has taken most of the blame, the offense has also lacked consistency, especially a true No. 2 wide receiver behind DK Metcalf.
With PFSN’s Football Playoff Meter (FPM) giving Pittsburgh a 67.6% chance to make it to the postseason and a 6.3% chance to reach the Super Bowl, the team could make an aggressive move before the 2025 NFL trade deadline on Nov. 4, at 4 p.m. ET.
With that in mind, Jakobi Meyers of the Las Vegas Raiders has emerged as a realistic target.
Analyst Predicts Steelers Could Trade for Jakobi Meyers
According to PFSN’s Josh Well, the Steelers are one of the top suitors for Meyers, who has reportedly expressed interest in a trade. The Raiders WR is in his contract season, but had made his intentions of wanting a trade clear after Las Vegas was not willing to spend money to tie him down to a contract before the 2025 season.
Weil noted that Meyers has handled the situation professionally. He added that the 28-year-old receiver could “explode on the scene” if he lands in the right offense, and a pairing with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh could be exactly that.
“These are the guys that I root for when they do it the right way. Look for him to explode on the scene if he gets his wish,” Weil wrote in his column.
“Oh, for sure. But I’m a professional at the end of the day. I’m just trying to play good football,” Meyers previously told ESPN’s Ryan McFadden.
Meyers is in his final year of a three-year, $33 million contract he signed with the Raiders in 2023. The deal includes a $5.5 million signing bonus, $21 million guaranteed, and an average annual value of $11 million.
For 2025, the 28-year-old wideout will earn a $10.5 million base salary and $251,300 workout bonus, carrying a $14.97 million cap hit and an $8.56 million dead cap. That makes a deal financially workable for Las Vegas, especially if they absorb part of his salary.
Meyers’ contract voids in 2026, positioning him as a free agent next offseason. A team trading for him would gain a reliable WR2 on a short-term deal with the possibility of an extension. Given his consistent production, his trade value is projected around a Day 2 pick, according to NFL Insider Jordan Schultz.
Why the Move Makes Sense for Steelers
According to PFSN’s Offensive Impact Rating, the Steelers are placed 12th in the league (79.8), while their third-down conversion rate of 39.5%, which ranks just 18th — a sign of stalled drives and lack of support behind Metcalf.
Metcalf remains the focal point and holds an 85.2 rating in PFSN’s WR Impact (WRi) score with a 60.5 receiving success rate, 461 yards, and five touchdowns this season, but the production drops sharply behind him. Calvin Austin III has a 70.7 WRi score with 167 yards and two scores, but lacks the size and reliability of a true WR2.
At center, Rodgers has been steady, posting a 68.3% completion rate, 1,489 yards, and a 16-5 touchdown to interception ratio through seven games. However, his efficiency dips when defenses key on Metcalf.
That’s where Meyers fits as a steady route-runner who’s averaged 75 catches and 879 scrimmage yards over the past three seasons. His 67% catch rate and 55% third-down success make him a natural fit for Rodgers’ timing-based scheme and Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl ambitions.
