ESPN's Steelers trade rumor gives details on Pittsburgh's failed Jakobi Meyers pursuit

Mike Moraitis

ESPN's Steelers trade rumor gives details on Pittsburgh's failed Jakobi Meyers pursuit image

Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

The NFL trade deadline passed on Tuesday and the Pittsburgh Steelers were silent.

Pittsburgh's need for a No. 2 wide receiver was not addressed, although it wasn't for a lack of trying based on a rumor from ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Schefter revealed on "The Pat McAfee Show" that the Steelers wanted to trade for Jakobi Meyers, but were apparently outbid for him.

"The one team that called on him was Pittsburgh," he said. "Pittsburgh expressed some interest in Jakobi Meyers, but obviously Jacksonville really stepped up to get something done here. Those are the two teams, I think, that really wanted to add Meyers to the roster."

Of course, the Jacksonville Jaguars ended up snagging Meyers for fourth- and sixth-round picks, which is a pretty reasonable price.

A second wide receiver to change addresses on Tuesday was Rashid Shaheed, who went from the New Orleans Saints to the Seattle Seahawks in a trade that cost fourth- and fifth-round picks. It isn't clear if the Steelers were in on him, though.

The Indianapolis Colts also moved Adonai Mitchell in the blockbuster trade for Sauce Gardner.

Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly explained that the price simply wasn't right for Pittsburgh to pull the trigger.

"Price just hasn't been right," Kaboly wrote.

"Remember, Steelers traded [George Pickens] for a third rounder and he had tremendous upside and an entire year on his contract -- not a 2 month rental with less upside. Perspective," Kaboly added.

Whatever the case may be, the Steelers now find themselves in the same boat they were in last season, although they at least attempted to bring in help by trading for Mike Williams.

The Steelers did make an addition at receiver by signing Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the practice squad, but he's hardly an adequate solution based on his production in recent years.

Will the Steelers' lack of a move come back to bite them? We'll have our answer in due time, but chances are it will.

Editorial Team