6 reasons Steelers CB Artie Burns remains a trade candidate before the deadline

Cheap price tag and asking price

Another reason why Artie Burns has been a possible trade candidate is because of his affordable price tag and reasonable asking price the Steelers would demand in a trade.

At 24 years old, Burns accounts for just $3 million in cap space this season – a price that most teams would be able to take on with ease. In addition, the Steelers wouldn’t be seeking much in return.

Knowing that Burns is set to hit the market in 10 more games, they would be willing to cut their losses and get what they can. The price of acquiring Artie Burns would be no more than a late-round draft choice.

Pittsburgh is short on draft capital

So why deal Artie Burns if you can’t get much in return? For starters, the Steelers are very short-handed on draft selections next year.

Pittsburgh surrendered their first-round draft choice in the Minkah Fitzpatrick deal, and they included their 2020 third-round pick in the trade to move up for Devin Bush.

This leaves the Steelers with a second-round pick, two fourth-round picks, a sixth-round pick, and a seventh-round pick as their only selections next year. Though Burns would return no more than a day three draft choice, Pittsburgh would rather have that at this point than a 10-game rental with him before he hits free agency.