A potential target in the 2027 NFL Draft for the Pittsburgh Steelers is done for the year.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were among the teams looking to acquire a wide receiver at the NFL’s trade deadline and were ultimately unsuccessful. So, the Steelers could now turn their attention to the 2027 NFL Draft for their next playmaker.

Unfortunately, one of the wide receivers that the Steelers have shown significant interest will be sidelined for the rest of the season.

According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, Rutgers star wide receiver KJ Duff underwent season-ending high-ankle surgery this week, and he will miss the remainder of the year.

Duff has been on the Steelers radar for some time now. The team has scouted him three times as he racked up 45 catches for 774 yards and nine touchdowns this season.

He currently ranks as the No. 32 overall player and No. 5 wide receiver in the 2027 NFL Draft class, according to the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board.

Duff’s success spans beyond the 2026 season, too. Despite an at-times underwhelming Rutgers passing attack, he had 60 catches 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025.

Only time will tell how Duff’s injury will affect his draft stock or if he will decide to return to college football next year with the chance to improve it any more.

However, it certainly creates an interesting situation for the wide receiver-needy Steelers.

With DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. both turning 29 this season, already among the highest-paid receiving duos in the league, and with all three of the team’s younger receivers more-suited to work out of the slot, the Steelers will likely be looking hard at an outside receiver early in next year’s draft class.

Will Duff remain on the Steelers radar or will they now turn their attention elsewhere?