As the NFL trade deadline arrives, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a few interesting routes to pursue. Will the team be buyers or sellers? Well, why not both? If the Steelers were interested in potentially dealing one of their veteran players, multiple-time 1,000-yard rusher Rico Dowdle would make for an excellent trade candidate.
Thanks to the emergence of Jaylen Warren, Dowdle has become an expendable and possibly valuable trade asset for the Steelers. His versatility and success with multiple different NFL teams would make him a valuable addition to almost any offense in the league.
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10 more trade targets for Steelers ahead of 2026 NFL deadline
G Cesar Ruiz, New Orleans Saints
(Stephen Lew, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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10 more trade targets for Steelers ahead of 2026 NFL deadline
G Cesar Ruiz, New Orleans Saints
(Stephen Lew, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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10 more trade targets for Steelers ahead of 2026 NFL deadline
G Jackson Powers-Johnson, Las Vegas Raiders
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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10 more trade targets for Steelers ahead of 2026 NFL deadline
WR Chris Godwin Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(Morgan Tencza, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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10 more trade targets for Steelers ahead of 2026 NFL deadline
WR Marquise Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
(Bill Streicher, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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10 more trade targets for Steelers ahead of 2026 NFL deadline
CB Kristian Fulton, Kansas City Chiefs
(Ron Chenoy, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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10 more trade targets for Steelers ahead of 2026 NFL deadline
S Jessie Bates III, Atlanta Falcons
(Brett Davis, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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10 more trade targets for Steelers ahead of 2026 NFL deadline
S Derwin James Jr., Los Angeles Chargers
(Troy Taormina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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10 more trade targets for Steelers ahead of 2026 NFL deadline
CB Carrington Valentine, Green Bay Packers
(Jeff Hanisch, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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10 more trade targets for Steelers ahead of 2026 NFL deadline
S Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals
(Jerome Miron, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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10 more trade targets for Steelers ahead of 2026 NFL deadline
WR Stefon Diggs, Washington Commanders
(Amber Searls, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Still, the Steelers are 6-2, and one key injury would take Pittsburgh’s top-five running back room to one of the league’s worst. The trade market for running backs also doesn’t particularly favor the Steelers, as teams in need of help at the position appear to be focusing their interest on bigger names, such as Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts and Breece Hall of the New York Jets.
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Honestly? It’s probably more likely that Dowdle remains a Steeler through the 2026 season. But the same can’t be said for every possible Steelers trade candidate, such as linebacker Cole Holcomb, who may be dealt at the November 10 deadline.
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