The Steelers could be making some trades come draft day and these names could be on the move.
The Steelers have been working hard during the offseason and those long hours will continue. The franchise has shown interest in most of the top quarterbacks in this draft class. They might have to trade up to get one that they covet and that could lead to big trade packages going the other way.
It has been a great start to the offseason with the free agency process to start. They were able to sign some team-friendly deals to fill starting holes across the roster. That has taken away the immediate urgency to address those needs in the upcoming draft.
Eyes have been on the Steelers brass as they go on their annual tour of pro days. History has shown that if this club doesn’t come to see a player during their pro day, they won’t take you in the first round of the draft. That has spoken volumes and their desire to get a quarterback into the building to compete for a starting spot as a rookie is there.
Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin have attended each pro day that holds a top talent at QB for the 2022 NFL Draft. It has been an obvious need, but it is somewhat shocking that the team has been so outspoken about acquiring a player for the position. It will be hard to pick a player toward the best in this group, but it would need a trade.
Getting up to a spot in the early portions of the first round will need a big haul to acquire it. Getting there could need a roster player in the trade package, along with many picks included. Selecting a young signal-caller could also cause a shakeup for current roster players standings on the team.
Steelers could trade WR Chase Claypool
Chase Claypool might be a shocker on this list, but it’s possible he could be on the move. The receiving group is low on talent right now and that could cause issues with trading this player. If a team comes calling and is willing to offer Pittsburgh something that they can’t refuse, they will need to consider it.
This is still a young player that is coming off a down year after a breakout rookie season. His receiving yards stayed about the same, but his touchdowns dropped significantly. That is a little concerning because he is such a big target and should do great in the red zone.
It seems like this could be one of the least likely options for the Steelers to trade on this list when you look at the other names in this article. The way this makes sense on Claypool leaving would be for an impressive pick coming back to the team so a draft pick could be used to fill in his spot. Another option would be including him into a package to move up for a quarterback.
There are teams in the top ten that are looking for a big target that brings athleticism along with them. This player would bring those things on the cheap for the next couple of seasons. Adding picks and someone like Claypool could move the needle to acquire a pick to draft someone like Malik Willis or Kenny Pickett.
Steelers could trade LB Devin Bush
Devin Bush has been getting a lot of criticism since this past season. He was coming off a knee injury that sidelined him for almost a year and that lingered onto the field of play. He did not show the promise that he did before his injury.
It seems likely that he will be back with the team soon, but that could always change. The black and gold are all in for drafting a quarterback and a young linebacker that is just a few seasons removed from a top ten pick could get interest. The issue would be this player probably wouldn’t demand much in the trade market.
He is almost off his rookie deal and heading into a prove-it year. This is going to help define what type of career this player will have. An entire offseason to prepare for Bush to get ready could fix his woes, but it might have to be elsewhere.
Myles Jack was signed in free agency and the team likes some other options in the starting role as well. Perhaps if this young linebacker needed to be included in a trade package to move up and get a signal-caller, the Steelers will have no other choice but to accept it.
Steelers could trade QB Mason Rudolph
Mason Rudolph is losing relevancy with the Steelers as each day passes by. Dwayne Haskins is also currently under contract with the team and his spot could be in jeopardy as well. This franchise is planning on drafting a young quarterback early right now, all signs would suggest.
Those plans could always go haywire and that could cause for Rudolph to fight to secure a spot on this team again. Mitch Trubisky will be the starter for this club no matter if a quarterback is taken early in the draft or not. He would have to fall flat on his face to lose the starting job in Pittsburgh and that should worry Rudolph.
Getting another young player into the fold would secure two spots on this roster and would force Haskins or Rudolph to battle for the last spot. A team could always come calling to acquire a young backup signal-caller that this player would provide to them. That scenario could also play out with having him ask for a trade or release as he sought a new opportunity.
Trading away this player would not bring much return; a late-round pick is most likely. This would all hinder on the Steelers going up in the draft to get a rookie quarterback. That is a very likely scenario that will place Rudolph at the third-string spot with Haskins trying to battle past him in training camp.
The Steelers could look to trade some of these players if the right opportunity arises. It’s probably not going to happen, but with certain scenarios playing out, they could be dealt.