The NFL trade deadline is always one of the craziest dates in football. In the hours leading up to the 4:00 p.m. ET deadline, blockbuster moves are often made. Last year, the Pittsburgh Steelers were the talk of the league when they shipped WR Chase Claypool to the Chicago Bears just before the deadline.
This year, the Steelers could be getting involved in the sweepstakes once more. There are already rumors that they could be interested in acquiring the Bears' star cornerback, Jaylon Johnson. Now veteran CB Levi Wallace just added to the drama.
Less than four hours before the deadline, Wallace posted a cryptic image on Instagram story.
Levi Wallace on IG. #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/IiE8xuheY3
— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) October 31, 2023
The post contained no description or words at all; just a set of eyes. This could be nothing, or it could suggest that the veteran cornerback might be on the move before the deadline.
This is an idea that has been floating around out there. Now that Joey Porter Jr. has officially overtaken Wallace as a starting cornerback in Pittsburgh, Wallace's camp could try to get him out of town before the deadline. It's worth noting that Wallace was inactive for Sunday's game against the Jaguars despite logging limited practice on Thursday and Friday last week.
Obviously, if Levi Wallace were to be traded, he wouldn't fetch much at this point. At 28 years old, Wallace should theoretically have some good years left in the tank, but speed and quickness have been a major issue this year, and the veteran hasn't shown the ability to stick with any receiver consistently in coverage.
One idea out there is that the Steelers could send Wallace back to Buffalo in exchange for former first-round pick, Kair Elam. Elam has fallen out of favor with the Bills and is shaping up to be a bust already in his second NFL season.
It's worth considering that Wallace had the best years of his career early on as a member of the Bills when he was signed as an undrafted free agent. A cornerback swap could potentially benefit both teams.
At the end of the day, we know that Levi Wallace isn't going to want to stick around if he can't earn a helmet on game day, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have clearly made the decision to move on. Don't be surprised if the veteran cornerback gets traded in the final hours of the deadline today.