Steelers fans should send flowers to Jaguars after Jakobi Meyers trade
Falling short always stings, but missing an opportunity hurts a little more. For Omar Khan and the Pittsburgh Steelers, there aren’t many more chances they can afford to miss—especially after news broke that the Las Vegas Raiders had traded wide receiver Jakobi Meyers to the Jacksonville Jaguars just hours before the NFL trade deadline.
It was a crushing moment for fans who believed this was the move the front office needed to make.
Pittsburgh, already battling inconsistency on offense, appeared poised to finally land a reliable weapon for All-Pro quarterback Aaron Rodgers. With Rodgers throwing 17 touchdowns so far this season—tied for third-most in the league—the Steelers have proven they can score. But even with his brilliance, it’s clear that more help is needed.
Now, with Meyers off the board, the Steelers are back at the drawing table, facing another round of tough questions about their decision-making. Once again, they’re left watching another team improve while they remain stuck in the middle.
The frustration among fans is understandable.
After all, this is the same front office that allowed George Pickens to walk earlier this offseason without a clear replacement plan. Rodgers’ timing and accuracy can only do so much when his receiver corps lacks consistency and depth.
There’s a growing sense that the Steelers are too often one step behind when it comes to adding offensive talent, and missing out on Meyers feels like another misstep in a season where the margin for error is razor-thin.
Of course, the NFL is a business—fast, unpredictable, and at times ruthless. Still, this particular miss is hard to justify. Pittsburgh had reportedly been monitoring Meyers for months, according to several league insiders. The 28-year-old receiver seemed to fit perfectly into what the Steelers needed: a dependable route-runner, a strong possession receiver, and someone capable of stretching the field.
The Pittsburgh Steelers missing out on Jakobi Meyers may have been a blessing in disguise
So how did the Steelers let him slip away?
The likely answer lies in the cost. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Jacksonville acquired Meyers for a fourth-round and a sixth-round pick. While that price might seem manageable for a player with 20 career touchdowns, it’s also a hefty tag for a franchise that just endured one of its most expensive offseasons in recent memory. Khan and his front office may have felt the long-term risk outweighed the short-term reward.
Still, that reasoning doesn’t erase the sting. It’s a bitter reminder of how quickly opportunities come and go in the NFL—and how one missed trade can shift a team’s entire trajectory. The Steelers have been searching for a rhythm since Rodgers arrived, and while the chemistry is improving, there’s still an obvious void in the passing attack. Meyers would’ve filled that gap beautifully.
But not all hope is lost.
The trade market still has life, and Pittsburgh could rebound quickly if they choose to stay aggressive. Two names that have surfaced as potential alternatives are Deebo Samuel Sr. of the Washington Commanders and wideout Adonai Mitchell of the Indianapolis Colts.
Samuel, when healthy, brings explosive playmaking and versatility that fit perfectly in Mike Tomlin’s offense. Mitchell, on the other hand, offers youth, upside, and affordability—the kind of prospect that could quietly evolve into Rodgers’ next trusted target.
Missing out on Meyers hurts, no doubt about it. But sometimes, the best deals are the ones that don’t happen. Perhaps this setback will push Khan and the Steelers to reevaluate their priorities and make a smarter, more balanced move before the window closes entirely.
The season is far from over, and with Rodgers under center, Pittsburgh remains in the thick of AFC contention. However, the front office now faces the challenge of proving they can make the right call when it counts. Fans can only hope this latest disappointment becomes the lesson that sparks the next great addition—because in the NFL, opportunity rarely knocks twice.
Recently-Paid Playmaker Is Lions’ Biggest Letdown at Halfway Point
With all of the change the Detroit Lions went through this offseason, sitting at 5-3 doesn’t seem all that bad. Sure, the Lions are expected to compete in the NFC and push for the first Super Bowl in franchise history, but with new offensive and defensive coordinators and their status as a target compared to an up-and-coming team, being in the middle of the race isn’t a bad thing as they enter the second half.
Still, there are some disappointments that have happened along the way. A lot of the Lions who have disappointed have mainly been due to injuries, including defensive end Marcus Davenport and cornerback Terrion Arnold. There’s even a case for offensive coordinator John Morton to be on this list based on the plethora of issues that have popped up in recent weeks.
But if we’re going with the Lions’ biggest disappointment, it has to be Jameson Williams. The star receiver was rewarded with a three-year, $80 million contract extension before the start of the season, but the production hasn’t been there, and he will need to return if the Lions get to where they want to go in the second half.
Lions Still Waiting for Jameson Williams to Live Up to His Contract
Coming into the season, many believed that Williams was on the path to stardom. After taking a “redshirt” rookie season as he recovered from a torn ACL suffered at Alabama, Williams had a modest 2023 campaign (24 catches, 354 yards, 2 TD) before posting his first career 1,000-yard season in 2024. His ability to get open downfield resulted in 11 yards per target, and many believed he could benefit by becoming a complete receiver in 2025.
While the expectations were high, Williams’s hype train has barely left the station this year. He has just 21 catches for 355 yards and three touchdowns through the first eight games, and while his yards per target is still respectable at 9.9, the volume of targets has dropped from 6.1 per game last year to 4.5 this year.
The Lions have discussed getting Williams the ball more recently, and they’ve done so with five or more targets in three of his past five games. But there are also games where Williams disappears, including a one-target performance during a Week 5 win over the Cincinnati Bengals and a two-target performance without a catch in a Week 7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Others will put the heat on Morton’s play calling, but he’s used Williams similarly to the way Johnson did. According to Pro Football Focus, Williams has an average depth of target of 15.0 yards this season, which is actually up from his 12.4 yard clip a year ago. Williams also has to catch the passes coming his way with his drop percentage jumping from 3.3% last season to 12.5% this season.
With those numbers in focus, a rebound may have to be a two-way street. The Lions need to find a way to get the ball into Williams’s hands, but the speedy playmaker also needs to play better and live up to the contract he signed at the beginning of the season.
Hopefully, both sides get on the same page to finish the season strong because Detroit's playoff aspirations could rely on a turnaround.
