3 reasons trading Melvin Ingram makes sense for Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Melvin Ingram (8). Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Melvin Ingram (8). Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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Pittsburgh Steelers make their selection in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Draft capital is more important than added depth for Steelers at this point

Disagree with me if you will, but I can make a strong case as to why the draft capital is more important to the Pittsburgh Steelers at this point than rostering a rotational edge defender.

Despite their efforts to put together a Super Bowl-contending football team this offseason, Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin have fallen well short of expectations. The Steelers are 3-3 following their Week 7 bye, and another divisional loss — this time against the Clevland Browns — could almost do them in.

At most, the Steelers are going to get another 11 games out of Melvin Ingram (assuming he’s healthy in each). We’re looking at maybe a few hundred snaps. The alternative is to get a quality pick out of trading him to a legitimate Super Bowl contender this year. A desperate team may be willing to give Pittsburgh as much as a third-round pick for next year’s NFL Draft.

For a player who is just another quality rotational piece, getting compensated well for him makes much more sense than having a disgruntled Melvin Ingram riding the bench in the second half of the season.