Breaking News: 3 Steelers Players Who Could Be Sent Packing Before the NFL Trade Deadline

PITTSBURGH — The NFL trade deadline is less than three weeks away, and for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the coming days could reshape the roster in significant ways. With the deadline set for November 10 at 4 p.m. ET, general manager Omar Khan and the front office face difficult decisions about which veterans to move as the team navigates a transitional season .

The Steelers have already shown a willingness to make bold moves, having traded cornerback Joey Porter Jr. earlier this season amid contract disputes . With a crowded quarterback room, an inconsistent linebacker corps, and a backfield logjam, multiple players have emerged as legitimate trade candidates. Here are three Steelers who could be sent packing before the deadline.

1. Quarterback Mason Rudolph

The most logical trade candidate on the roster is backup quarterback Mason Rudolph. Pittsburgh is carrying an unprecedented four quarterbacks on the active roster: starter Aaron Rodgers, Rudolph, Will Howard, and rookie Drew Allar . That logjam was never going to hold for an entire season.

Rudolph, who turns 31, is a known commodity with 19 career starts, including 14 with the Steelers . He is not the future in Pittsburgh, and with Rodgers under contract for 2026 and the organization invested in developing Howard and Allar, Rudolph’s roster spot is expendable.

The market for veteran backup quarterbacks is historically active at the deadline, particularly when injuries strike contenders. Rudolph could be a competent insurance policy for a team that loses its starter, and Pittsburgh could realistically recoup a Day 3 draft pick in return . For a Steelers team that needs to accumulate assets and clear roster space, moving Rudolph is the most sensible deal on the board .

2. Linebacker Patrick Queen

Patrick Queen arrived in Pittsburgh with expectations of anchoring the middle of the defense. Instead, his tenure has been defined by inconsistency. Through six games this season, Queen has struggled to provide the stability the Steelers need at the second level, and neither he nor Payton Wilson has locked down the position .

Queen is in the final year of his contract, and it has become increasingly apparent that he and the Steelers are heading for a split when the 2026 season ends . Rather than losing him for nothing in free agency, Pittsburgh could move him now while he still holds value to a linebacker-needy contender.

The logic is straightforward: Queen is a straight-line tackler who can still be an asset in the run game when deployed correctly. In the right scheme as a complementary piece, he thrives . The Steelers, meanwhile, have depth behind him with Wilson and Cole Holcomb, making a trade feasible without gutting the defense . Any draft capital acquired for Queen would be a bonus for a team that needs to restock.

3. Running Back Rico Dowdle

The most surprising name on this list may be Rico Dowdle, but the numbers tell a compelling story. Dowdle returned from injury and looked outstanding in the Week 6 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, showcasing the starting-caliber ability he demonstrated throughout his career .

The problem is that this is now Jaylen Warren’s backfield. Warren has been one of the few bright spots on offense, and the Steelers cannot afford to take touches away from him after his red-hot start to the season . Dowdle is too talented to languish as a backup, and at his age and contract situation, he holds genuine value to a contender searching for running back help.

Dealing Dowdle would be a win-win. Pittsburgh gets something in return for a player who no longer fits its long-term plans, and Dowdle lands in a situation where he can contribute meaningfully. For a Steelers team that needs to maximize every asset, this is the kind of pragmatic move that defines successful deadline management .

The Broader Picture

The Steelers’ willingness to trade veterans is not a sign of surrender but of strategic recalibration. The AFC North remains competitive, but Pittsburgh’s roster has clear redundancies and inefficiencies that can be addressed through trades.

There is also the looming question of edge rusher Alex Highsmith, whose name has surfaced in trade rumors dating back to the offseason . While Highsmith remains a productive player, the Steelers have T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig locked in, making Highsmith expendable for the right price. NFL insiders have identified him as a name to watch as the deadline approaches .

For now, the focus remains on Rudolph, Queen, and Dowdle as the most likely candidates to be moved. Each represents a different calculation—roster space, contractual pragmatism, and asset maximization—but all point in the same direction: the Steelers are open for business.

With the deadline fast approaching, Pittsburgh has decisions to make. And for at least three players, their time in the Steel City may be running short.