With the NFL trade deadline upon us, the Pittsburgh Steelers should try and trade these four veterans for whatever they can get in return.
The Steelers are rarely ever big players at the trade deadline, but 2021 is shaping up to be a little bit different. While the win against the Cleveland Browns ensures this team won’t put up their roster for a fire sale, some names on the depth chart make sense to be moved. Here are four Steelers’ veterans that should be traded before the Tuesday trade deadline.
Four veterans Pittsburgh should trade
4. Steelers RB Benny Snell
It was no secret that Benny Snell was going to see a lot more time on the bench in 2021. The Steelers used their top draft pick on Najee Harris, so there was little need to get the underwhelming Snell any significant touches. He was still expected to be the backup though, but that job was quickly lost to Kallen Ballage as he outplayed Snell in camp. Now, Snell is a middling option with little value on this team.
While his value wouldn’t be high (nothing more than a seventh-round pick), Snell could still go and be a valuable role player for an offense. Teams that have seen their depth charts be ravaged by injuries would make logical sense for the former fourth-round pick. Add in the fact that Snell is a quality special teams’ player and any team could use his presence for cheap. With the Steelers not utilizing their backups and favoring the other runners over Snell, flipping him for a late pick right now makes sense.
Four veterans Pittsburgh should trade
3. Steelers TE Eric Ebron
While his value also wouldn’t be extremely high, Eric Ebron is easily the best trade candidate for the Steelers. The veteran has struggled in the new offense and has quickly been outplayed by his rookie counterpart Pat Freiermuth. Now, Ebron is just an average receiving option who has had issues making significant plays so far this season.
While having him as a number two tight end isn’t bad, the team is suddenly getting something out of Zach Gentry. The former fifth-round pick was a camp longshot this year, but he has finally taken some significant steps forward in terms of development. He has been a steady blocker and came alive as a receiving threat this past week against the Browns. He can easily be counted on as the backup tight end.
That leaves Ebron in a pretty bad spot. The team doesn’t have much of a use for him and teams that have suffered an injury at tight end, such as the Packers, could come calling for the athletic tight end. Ebron was an ok signing last year, but the team has improved the position without him. It’s time to move on, and he makes the most sense to be dealt at the deadline.
Four veterans Pittsburgh should trade
2. Steelers EDGE Melvin Ingram
It was a relative surprise to see Melvin Ingram request a trade last week, as the veteran was playing extremely well for the Steelers’ defense. He was rotating in consistently with the starters at the edge position and even allowed the team to have some three outside linebacker sets on defense. He likely wants one last bite at the apple though, and he knows staying with the Steelers will limit his overall potential for another solid season.
Considering the Steelers have two young and capable starters along the edge, Ingram only hurts the Steelers from a depth perspective. That said, Taco Charlton looked pretty good against the Browns in limited action, so moving him to the active roster if Ingram is dealt would be an ok trade-off. The versatility at the position would certainly take a hit, but the starters would also have more time on the field to get after the quarterback.
While I’m mostly opposed to the idea of Ingram getting traded, if he really wants out of Pittsburgh, the team can get by without him. Ideally, he fetches a decent draft pick as well, as Ingram has seemingly found the fountain of youth this season for how he has been playing. It would be a tough loss to the depth of the defense, but trading Ingram may make the most sense for both sides.
Four veterans Pittsburgh should trade
1. Steelers WR James Washington
Let me make this clear before I continue: I think James Washington is a great receiver. The former second-round pick is far from elite, but when counted on, he delivers. He has good hands and a physical style, despite his overall size, and frankly, his good attitude and team-first mentality make it easy to root for him. With the injury to JuJu Smith-Schuster, one would have to think that Washington has since exploded onto the scene.
Instead, the Steelers are still barely using him and have barely thrown to him. He hasn’t seen a significant uptick in snaps or targets after the injury, and it is leaving most people confused as to what the teams’ plans are with him. As of now, it seems like the Steelers don’t have a good plan, which is why they should consider trading him. This would weaken the receiver room, but if the team isn’t going to rely on him now, there is little reason to keep him on the roster.
Again, I don’t think Washington is a bad player nor should the team trade him for pennies, but if they got a good deal in return, Washington should be off this roster. This isn’t due to him, it is due solely to the fact that the Steelers don’t have a good plan for the veteran. It’s better to trade him now assuming the right offer appears.
The Steelers rarely ever make big trades at the deadline, but with how this roster is currently constructed, these four veterans are obvious trade targets. Keep them in mind as the NFL trade deadline passes, as any of these four names could be moved in return for draft picks.