Steelers hypothetical trade scenarios before the NFL deadline
By Tommy Jaggi
Steelers trade DL Larry Ogunjobi to Chiefs
Steelers get: 4th-round pick in 2023
Chiefs get: DL Larry Ogunjobi, conditional 6th-round pick in 2024
Larry Ogunjobi has been an incredible free agent find by the Pittsburgh Steelers so far. Sadly, I think there’s almost zero chance he returns to the team in 2023 and beyond.
If you recall, the Chicago Bears offered Ogunjobi a massive contract that would have paid him roughly $13.5 million per season. However, the medicals scared the general manager, and they ultimately backed out of the deal. The Steelers were his rebound, and Ogunjobi inked a one-year deal to prove that he was healthy and could play at a high level.
Over the past several weeks, Larry Ogunjobi has been a game-wrecker in the middle of Pittsburgh’s defense. The defensive tackle still has the ability to get after the quarterback from a hurry on the inside — something that helped him earn 7.0 sacks, 12 tackles for a loss, and 16 QB hits with the Bengals last season.
When he hits the market again in 2023, Ogunjobi will be caught after, and with the Steelers already forking up very good money for Cameron Heyward, they won’t be able to afford to give Ogunjobi a big contract to stick around. For this reason, Pittsburgh should seriously consider dealing him for compensation before they get nothing out of him.
The money will spend next offseason will likely cancel out the compensatory formula. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are a Super Bowl contender with a weakness on the interior defensive line. They wouldn’t mind giving up a mid-round draft choice for a players who could help them compete in the present.