The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to trade for about a dozen players ahead of the deadline based on the rumors swirling around. While the actual deadline will be much quieter for Pittsburgh, it does seem like a deal or two could materialize.
One name that isn’t getting enough attention is Raiders interior offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson.
I wrote about the possibility of trading for Powers-Johnson a few weeks ago, and it seems like the smoke around the second-year player has only intensified. It seems like the new regime is out on him.
Now, reports are surfacing that the Raiders may seek out some veteran cornerback help. Luckily for the Steelers, they could have the perfect trade package for Powers-Johnson.
The Pittsburgh Steelers should trade Darius Slay for Jackson Powers-Johnson
The Steelers have a lot of notable names at cornerback right now, but no combination has proven successful. The worst cornerback has been Darius Slay. It has been so bad that rumors are surfacing that Pittsburgh will look to trade the elderly cornerback.
While Slay doesn’t possess a lot of value right now, he is a big enough name to still draw some buzz. While his play hasn’t been up to his usual level of excellence, he can still start for a team in need of cornerback help.
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Powers-Johnson naturally has more value, but Slay could help lower the cost. If I had to guess, the former Oregon Duck would be going for a 4th or 5th round pick. Slay is probably worth a 6th-round pick. Perhaps an additional late-day three pick is enough to get this deal done.
Why add Powers-Johnson? While not an immediate need, Issac Seumalo is likely playing his last year here. Getting a former second-round pick on the cheap gives you more options, so you can avoid using resources next year at the position. Considering how many needs this team will have, that would be huge.
The Steelers were also heavily interested in Powers-Johnson heading up to the draft. Had he been on the board in the second round, he very well could have been the pick over Zach Frazier. Now, the team has the chance to have both on the roster.
Given Slay’s decline, this deal makes too much sense not to make. Powers-Johnson would give the Steelers a legitimate potential starter while opening the door to getting younger at cornerback.
While all eyes are on what happens to Jakobi Meyers at the trade deadline, the Steelers need to make a move to acquire a Las Vegas blocker instead.