The most outlandish possible outcomes for the Steelers in the 2020 NFL Draft

What unexpected move will the Steelers make in round 2?

We’ve already heard a number of possibilities for the Steelers and their second-round pick. Many think they’ll stand pat and pick the best player available. Others have delved into the possibility of a trade with the New England Patriots in which the Steelers move back while acquiring multiple 3rd round picks. And then, of course, there are the rumors about Leonard Fournette.

But none of that is too off the wall, and we’re shooting for the “surprise-iest” of surprise moves here. So what could the Steelers do that would make any fan pinch themselves to make sure they aren’t dreaming?

Scenario 1: Trade up into the first round… for a QB!

Yeah. I said it.  Or wrote it. I’ll give you a minute to let it sink in.

There are only a couple of valid reasons for a team like the Steelers to do this. First, a player they absolutely love, who they believed would not be available in the last 3 or 4 picks of the opening round must slide to a point where a trade is feasible. Let’s mock up a fantasy scenario and see how it plays out. Remember, we’re having fun with this. It’s not supposed to be probable.

For the purposes of this exercise, I’m going to say that for whatever reason, teams have cooled on QB Justin Herbert to the point that he has undergone an Aaron Rodgers type slide. The Patriots, who seem to the team that would pounce in the 20’s have instead found their dream compliment to Jarrett Stidham in Henry Ruggs III, who himself slid further than most projected.

Herbert has all the tools the Steelers covet in a QB.  Huge hands. Underestimated mobility. Accuracy and a laser cannon arm. Rather than draft, for now, the Steelers go all in and send San Francisco their 2nd and 3rd, plus next year’s 2nd and 4th. The 49er’s accumulate picks they sorely need and the Steelers land their signal-caller for the next 15 years.

Herbert is clearly upset at having been passed over by 30 other teams and enters training camp with a Brady-sized chip on his shoulder. Steeler fans are split. Half want Colbert and Tomlin’s head on a platter for having failed to acquire talent for the current QB. The other half are ecstatic over the idea that there will be no Cliff Stoudt, Mark Malone, Bubby Brister, Neil O’Donnell, Mike Tomczak, Kordell Stewart, and Tommy Maddox bridge between franchise QB’s.

The Steelers then stun everyone by trading Mason Rudolph to, of all teams, the Cleveland Browns, for a sixth-rounder and cash. Fans and pundits alike are not stunned by the terms of the trade, but by the fact anyone would trade for Rudolph for any reason.

In his post-draft interview, Herbert tells Steeler Nation he intends to bring them a ring for each finger and that he’s thrilled at the opportunity to learn from Big Ben. A week later, Roethlisberger tells ESPN that the only way he will share anything with Herbert is if the rookie agrees to hand wash his beard twice daily for the next 3 years. Antonio Brown begins tweeting immediately that he will only play wherever Herbert ends up. Nobody understands why.