The Pittsburgh Steelers are putting the finishing touches on their 90-man roster as we get set to enter the summer. Omar Khan's efforts during the offseason have his team looking much better on paper than it did in 2023, and even with a difficult schedule on the horizon, the arrow is pointed up.
While the Steelers made significant roster changes and bolstered their team with a strong 2024 draft class, there are still some positions that could prove to be their Achilles heel this year. At wide receiver, Pittsburgh added Roman Wilson in the third round and a handful of free agents who don't move the needle. They also need an upgrade at slot cornerback and along the interior defensive line.
Khan has a choice: he can sit on his hands or get aggressive with trades to ensure the Steelers' roster is as strong as possible entering the 2024 season.
Interestingly, Pittsburgh's biggest needs happen to line up with positions the Denver Broncos might be willing to part with. The Steelers could execute a trade with the Broncos for one of these three players before Week 1 of the 2024 season.
Courtland Sutton, WR
This is an obvious one, as Courtland Sutton was routinely involved in trade rumors to the Pittsburgh Steelers around the NFL Draft. In fact, some believed that Pittsburgh had freed up money in the Alex Highsmith contract restructure just before the draft in order to execute a trade for Sutton.
While a trade never came to fruition, it doesn't mean that it is now out of the question. With their team getting young and moving in a new direction under Sean Payton, Denver may be willing to part with their long-time wide receiver.
The Broncos don't have elite talent at the position, but they've spent draft picks over the past two years on guys like Marvin Mims and Troy Franklin while signing Josh Reynolds in free agency. At the cost of a future third or fourth-round pick, both teams may find enough interest to pull the trigger on a trade that would send Courtland Sutton to Pittsburgh.
Riley Moss, CB
It probably wasn't their intention, but the Steelers managed to go the entire 2024 offseason without spending notable money or draft capital at the slot cornerback position. This was already one of Pittsburgh's biggest needs from 2023, and they did nothing to improve the position this year.
Slot cornerbacks don't grow on trees, and most teams won't be willing to part with their nickel defensive back. But the Broncos might be the exception.
Though Denver spent a third-round pick on Riley Moss in the 2023 NFL Draft, he played just 25 defensive snaps all season and was used primarily on special teams. Ja'Quan McMillian proved to be a quality option from the slot in his second season and he has a massive leg up on Moss for slot duties in 2024.
On the outside, the Broncos have one of the best in the league in Pat Surtain II. They also drafted Kris Abrams-Draine and signed former Steelers CB Levi Wallace. The Steelers look to execute a trade for Riley Moss. He might be unproven, but Moss would step into the starting slot CB role right away for Pittsburgh.
D.J. Jones, DT
The Steelers have been desperately lacking a true nose tackle for years, and the Denver Broncos might have exactly what they need. D.J. Jones isn't on to get after the quarterback often. The veteran defensive tackle has just 11.0 sacks and 17 QB hits in 7 NFL seasons. But he offers just what they need.
Jones is a run-defense specialist who can stall out opposing running backs on early downs. The former 49ers nose tackle spent the past two years with the Broncos, but they may be willing to move him via trade as Denver likes their group of interior defenders.
Montravius Adams could be a soft spot on the Steelers' defense once again in 2024, but D.J. Jones could help turn a weakness into a strength for Pittsburgh in 2024.