Steelers Linked To Former Longtime Rival, 1,000-Yard Receiver

After acquiring safety Kyle Dugger from the New England Patriots in a late-October trade, the Pittsburgh Steelers were quiet during Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline.

At 5-3 entering Week 10, however, the Steelers could’ve improved their roster more, particularly at wide receiver.

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox revealed his “Best Team Fits for Top 10 Bargain Free Agents After Trade Deadline” on Friday, including two players that Pittsburgh could potentially target.

The first was former longtime Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd.

“Tyler Boyd isn’t the player he once was, but it’s still surprising he hasn’t found a home this season. An experienced, savvy route-runner, he should still have something to offer,” Knox wrote. “The Steelers would make sense, as they could use a veteran receiver and didn’t add one at the trade deadline.”

Boyd spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Bengals, posting back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2018 and 2019. He recorded 39 catches for 390 scoreless yards on 57 targets with the Tennessee Titans during the 2024 campaign.

Knox also mentioned former Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. as a possible fit with the Steelers.

“The 26-year-old had dealt with stingers throughout his career and missed all but four games in 2024. However, he was a terrific cover corner — if an inconsistent tackler — when healthy earlier in his career,” he wrote. “He underwent spinal-fusion surgery in April. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, he has been cleared to play and has already scheduled visits with the Panthers, Vikings, 49ers, Bears, Steelers and Green Bay Packers. Any of those teams could use Samuel’s assistance, though the Steelers and Bears might be the most desperate for secondary help.”

Samuel posted two interceptions in each of his first three seasons before finishing with 13 tackles, two passes defended and no picks across four contests last year.

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