Pittsburgh Steelers will try to trade Morgan Burnett before release

The Pittsburgh Steelers are moving on from safety Morgan Burnett, but will try to trade the veteran before releasing him.

Last week, the Steelers announced they’ll move on from veteran safety Morgan Burnett. The former Packer signed a three-year deal with Pittsburgh, but after one season decided the two sides weren’t the right fit.

Earlier this offseason, Burnett asked the Steelers to release him by the beginning of free agency. Struggling with injuries and the competition of rookie Terrell Edmunds, Burnett played more of a hybrid safety/linebacker role when on the field.

With Edmunds emerging in his first season, Pittsburgh will look for a backup to complement his play. Burnett is more of a starting player with his experience, leaving his role with the Steelers less promising than he’s looking for.

Pittsburgh will release Burnett, but according to Jeremy Fowler, they’ll attempt to trade him before they do. The team’s deadline is April 1, giving them this week to try and receive something for the veteran safety.

Burnett’s worth may not be very high after two years of injuries. The safety market was filled this offseason, leaving stars like Eric Berry still waiting to find a new home. Burnett, if released, should sign somewhere new, but it could make his value in a trade market more difficult to find.

The Steelers will do their due diligence in the next seven days to possibly add more draft picks to their mix. With ten already, Pittsburgh would love to continue building to their selections, adding more fuel to the fire for trade bate.

Burnett should be the last player to leave for the time being. In an offseason filled with headlines and departures, the Steelers find themselves filling plenty of holes and now leaving one final piece to the puzzle behind before the NFL Draft.