5 Steelers that should be traded during the 2021 NFL Draft

Justin Layne

While it would seem on paper that cutting bait with Justin Layne after cutting your starting cornerback makes little sense, the Steelers should check to see what his market is. While his first two years have been a disappointment, his size and athletic profile should make him intriguing for teams that may have had pre-draft interest in him. With James Pierre seemingly jumping Layne on the depth chart, flipping him before his market bottoms out makes sense.

Teams around the league obviously value the cornerback position, so while Layne’s first two years will likely mean he doesn’t get a third-round pick back for Layne, a day three pick could still be had for Layne. He still has some promise around the league given his athleticism, but another year stuck on the depth chart will destroy any value he has. As well, having two years on the deal means a new team can keep him on the roster cheaply for two years.

It would be one thing if Layne seemed set to make the jump to starting cornerback, but when an undrafted rookie takes your defensive snaps in your second year, it’s hard to imaging Layne getting much of a chance. If the team selects a cornerback early in the draft as they seem to intend on doing, Layne may not even make the roster. Trade him while he still has value, especially if you can recoup a decent mid-round pick.