​PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 01: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers passes the ball during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium on November 01, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) GettyThe Pittsburgh Steelers had an opportunity to add to a 6-2 team at the NFL trade deadline. General manager Omar Khan instead kept his draft picks, and a new report points to a bigger decision awaiting the franchise.While other AFC contenders made moves, Pittsburgh stood pat despite questions at wide receiver and in the secondary. According to ESPN, the Steelers’ approach has plenty to do with what happens after Aaron Rodgers.ESPN Reveals Steelers’ Trade Deadline ReasoningESPN’s Brooke Pryor reported that Pittsburgh was one of only two AFC teams with at least six wins that failed to make a trade before Tuesday’s deadline. The Cincinnati Bengals were the other, although they reportedly backed out of a deal.Pryor pointed directly to the franchise’s unsettled quarterback future.“PIT has maintained that it doesn’t want to give up significant draft capital until it has a clear future QB plan,” Pryor wrote.That position matches what Pryor wrote in an earlier ESPN deadline preview.“Don’t mortgage the future for the present,” Pryor wrote, later adding that Pittsburgh’s “top priority remains finding their next franchise quarterback.”Rodgers, 42, has said this will be his final NFL season. The Steelers have Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and rookie Drew Allar behind him, but haven’t settled on a successor.Khan expressed optimism about the younger quarterbacks earlier this season.“We’re excited about the future with those guys, so glad we have them,” he said, according to Steelers.com’s Brian Batko.Steelers Pass on Josh Downs and Other ReceiversPittsburgh’s decision was especially noticeable at wide receiver. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac reported that the Steelers explored trades for Indianapolis Colts receiver Josh Downs, Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and Tennessee Titans receiver Calvin Ridley.Downs ended up with the Kansas City Chiefs, who sent Indianapolis 2027 fourth- and fifth-round picks and received a seventh-rounder along with the receiver.Pittsburgh no longer owns its 2027 fourth-round pick, having sent it to Dallas in a deal the Steelers announced in August. That deal brought back third- and sixth-round selections, leaving the Steelers with two picks in the third round.Thomas and Ridley remained with their teams.The Steelers’ need wasn’t imagined. Michael Pittman Jr. has played just three games because of a foot injury, while Roman Wilson has been out with a hand injury.Coach Mike McCarthy said Pittman is “getting close” to returning, according to an Associated Press report by Will Graves. Wilson could return later this month. Pittsburgh is counting on reinforcements already under contract rather than another tr