3 moves Steelers need to make, regardless of how the 2021 season ends

Steelers must make a trade

Trades can be a tricky proposition who do you trade, and what can you demand in return for a specific player.  It seems unlikely they can make a trade for a particular player in any trade, but they could add draft picks. Which makes a trade look more inviting if it appears they may close to a losing record. If they rebound, then perhaps a trade might be their best bet. So who might they trade?

Two particular scenarios come to mind. Neither trade is entirely palatable, but they could help. The first option could be JuJu Smith-Schuster. However, his contract ended last year, not garnishing a lot of interest; he re-signed for a one-year deal, so his contract expires at the end of the season.  It’s hard to predict if he comes back in 2022 so perhaps trade him. That said, the Steelers might not get a lot in return, but they could get enough allowing them to replace him.

A second trade, perhaps that might work better, would involve Terell Edmunds. In this case, the Steelers declined his 5th-year option, meaning he’s a UFA at the end of the season. Given the Steelers just gave T.J. Watt a huge new deal and with Minkah Fitzpatrick will be a UFA in 2023, trade Edmunds before the season ends. He has never been a huge fan favorite anyway, comparatively, and the Steelers could get more than they might for JuJu. Plus, Edmunds might be the easier player to replace.

In either situation, like it or not,  the Steelers can get additional draft capital needed for 2022.