3 players the Steelers should look to trade before the start of the season

The Pittsburgh Steelers are just a few weeks away from finalizing their 2019 roster. Here are three players they should look to trade before the season opens.

The Steelers aren’t strangers to making deals with other teams. Before the 2018 season opened, Pittsburgh traded for wide receiver and return man, Ryan Switzer.

The deal didn’t cost them much, as the Steelers shipped their 2019 5th round pick to Oakland in exchange for Ryan Switzer and the Raiders 2019 6th round draft choice. But Ryan Switzer isn’t the only player Pittsburgh has made a move for in recent years.

On August 29th of 2019, Pittsburgh traded for tight end Vance McDonald. McDonald was coming off a season where he averaged 16.3 yards per catch and managed 4 touchdowns. Like the Switzer trade, the 49ers required a simple pick swap in exchange for the athletic tight end, and were asked to take on his contract.

Making these trades just before the start of the season often time work out for both teams involved. The 49ers were looking to go in a different direction. They didn’t love how much money McDonald was making so they traded him away. Rookie George Kittle immediately took his place, and is turning out to be one of the best tight ends in football.

Things also worked out well for the Steelers. Pittsburgh struggled to find a tight end after Heath Miller retired. They traded for Ladarius Green, who’s career was short lived, before finding Vance. The former 49er turned out to be a fantastic player for Pittsburgh, and it didn’t cost much of anything.

Presesaon trades don’t always work out, but they often require very little investment on the part of both teams. There are a surplus of quality players who may not make the team this year for the Steelers.

Here are three players the Steelers should look to trade away prior to the start of the season: