Everyone believes the Pittsburgh Steelers are strictly buyers as the NFL trade deadline arrives this afternoon. Although they will not want to sell off pieces from their roster, general manager Omar Khan could get creative in how he approaches the deadline. The Steelers could be focused on exchanging players in positions of strength to upgrade an area of weakness.
That could lead to some notable names becoming available on the trade block.
Any sort of real impactful move the Steelers might want to make to the receiver position could require them to subtract from their talented defense. There are other players who are scheduled to hit free agency after the season, which could also make them expendable for the right price.
Don't forget that just because Pittsburgh is competitive, it doesn't necessarily mean they can't make bold decisions at the deadline.
Pittsburgh Steelers could shock fans by trading one of these players at the deadline
Patrick Queen, LB
He's still an inconsistent player, but Patrick Queen has been better in recent weeks. The issue is that he will be a free agent after this season, and it seems likely that he won't be re-signing with the club. Pittsburgh shouldn't be in a rush to move Queen at the deadline, but they do have Elandon Roberts and others to help fill his vacancy. Queen probably won't get moved, but it's not impossible to imagine.
Mason Rudolph, QB
With the Minnesota Vikings in desperation mode to hopefully find a solution to their ongoing quarterback woes, Mason Rudolph should be brought up.
The veteran is sitting on the Steelers' sideline collecting dust and could help a team compete this year. No one should anticipate much in return if Rudolph was traded, but Pittsburgh could make him available to give him a new opportunity to start elsewhere for the rest of the campaign.
Jaquan Brisker, S
Although he hasn't been terrible this season, it's fair to say that Jaquan Brisker hasn't been as advertised thus far. He's also a pending free agent, and as the Steelers showed earlier with the Joey Porter Jr. trade, it doesn't matter if you are a Pittsburgh kid, so no one is safe. Moving Brisker only makes sense if the team lands an upgrade before the deadline, which might not be likely to happen.
Yahya Black, DT
We reach an area where it would certainly raise some eyebrows if the Steelers moved Yahya Black. He has been terrific in a bigger role at different points this season, but if they had to trade him to help upgrade an area of weakness, they need to entertain it. Black is someone who will probably be in a minimized role in Pittsburgh, but his depth would be tough to replace if they pulled the trigger.
Alex Highsmith
Here is where the rubber might meet the road when it comes to fans scratching their heads if this occurs. The truth of the matter is that Alex Highsmith is probably on borrowed time in Pittsburgh, as they are unlikely to pay their top three edge rushers past this season. The Steelers could get significant value in return for Highsmith, but it would set their pass rush back to a point of concern.
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