Speculation has surfaced that C.J. Stroud could be traded this offseason. The Texans haven’t been able to get over the hump, and if these rumors are true, the Pittsburgh Steelers need to be listeners.
It is no secret that the Steelers don’t have a legitimate franchise quarterback. Aaron Rodgers may return, or the team could turn to Will Howard, but no matter the solution this season, it feels like the answer isn’t anywhere close right now.
Stroud has had his issues, and the Texans haven’t been able to get over the hump with him at the helm. There is clearly frustration there, and the Steelers could take their shot.
There is naturally a lot of risk here. We saw another Texans quarterback fetch a massive price and fall flat on his face. Missing on a move like this is a franchise killer.
That said, Stroud has flashed a lot of potential, and the better scheme and supporting cast could unlock his potential. If the Texans are truly out on their former first-round pick, the Steelers need to aggressively come calling.
The Pittsburgh Steelers can go all in on C.J. Stroud with one of these three trades
Steelers Mock Trade #1
The first mock trade is only focused on draft picks, with the only player involved being Stroud.
This means that Houston gets quite the haul. Simply put, a quarterback trade like this rarely happens. Even with a new contract looming, it is hard to envision less than three first-round picks being the base of this deal.
Given his age and talent, the cost makes sense. The Texans get the Steelers' next three first-round picks, a high cost, but if Stroud pans out, they won’t be missed. You sweeten the pot with your second-round picks this year and next while also netting a third-round pick next year in exchange.
Even if Houston is out on Stroud, they aren’t going to give him away for cheap. He would be the most sought-after quarterback available via trade in years. The Steelers give up a massive haul, but they do it in hopes of landing a franchise cornerstone.
Steelers Mock Trade #2
This deal is similar to the first, but the Steelers part ways with a few younger players to lessen the cost of some of the additional draft capital.
Three first-round picks are still required to get this deal done. The additional players offered don’t move that needle that much. It does reduce the cost for the later capital.
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Giving up on Kaleb Johnson would be tough, but the Texans need running back help in a major way. It would make sense for them to gamble on the talented former Iowa back.
Payton Wilson has flashed at times, but he hasn’t taken the next step to be a truly elite player. He goes to one of the best defenses in the league, and the hope would be that the Texans could get more out of him.
In exchange for the young players, the Steelers get to cut the fluff out of this deal. They still lose three first-round picks, but they preserve the remaining picks in their drafts. Still steep, this also comes at the cost of positions elsewhere.
Steelers Mock Trade #3
This one gets extremely aggressive, but if the Steelers want to give up less than three first-round picks, it will require a massive haul.
The Texans have major holes along the interior of their offensive and defensive line. The Steelers can provide solutions with two of their young cornerstone players.
Zach Frazier has been a stout center since being drafted in the second round. I feel like the line as a whole hasn’t thrived with him, but that seems to be a common theme among the young players in Pittsburgh. He could easily be a top-three center with another year of experience at the helm.
Derrick Harmon was a great run defender in year one and has all of the traits you want in a great starting defensive lineman. You would hate to give him up, but he would go a long way in shoring up their line.
Losing both is a massive blow, but it saves you a first-round pick.
This would present a lot of holes for the Steelers, but they have options to fill them. Yahya Black could take on an expanded role, and another early draft pick along the defensive line would make sense. The free agent center class is talented and could provide a replacement.
Are any of these trades worth it for Stroud? That would be dependent on him panning out as a franchise quarterback. A player with his potential and skill set isn’t available that often, though, so in order to acquire him, you have to give up the farm.