Could The Steelers Land A Sensational Defensive Player From The Arizona Cardinals Following The Release Of DeAndre Hopkins?

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had an extremely busy offseason, adding key players to the mix via both free agency as well as the 2023 NFL Draft. While it seems as if Omar Khan and the team's front office are done with making big-time roster moves, there may be one last opportunity for the "Khan Artist" to strike a deal that can help the defense in a number of different facets. 

The Arizona Cardinals seem to have no intentions of competing for an NFC West title in 2023, as they have recently released star wide receiver, DeAndre Hopkins after failing to find a trade partner for his services. With their quarterback, Kyler Murray, recovering from a torn ACL which occurred during Week 14 of the 2022 season, it is likely he misses much of, if not all of 2023. Needless to say, without a starting-caliber quarterback, the Cardinals are poised to be one of the worst teams in the entire league next season. 

The Steelers Have A Golden Opportunity To Make One Last Big Move

Interestingly enough, there are two Cardinals' players that the Steelers may have their eye on, safety Budda Baker and "linebacker" Isaiah Simmons. Of the two, Simmons is the more likely candidate to be traded to the Steelers due to him still being on his rookie contract. However, if the Steelers are still interested in finding an All-Pro-caliber safety to pair alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick and are willing to pay the hefty price to do so, Baker may be an option as well. 

Baker, who is currently slated to make over $13 million in base salary in 2023, is reportedly interested in a new contract that would make him one of, if not the highest-paid safety in the NFL. With the Steelers already devoting a large portion of their salary cap to the contracts of T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, and Fitzpatrick, the likelihood of Baker playing for the Steelers in 2023 is slim. The team may also be looking to lock up outside linebacker, Alex Highsmith and extend him with a new deal. With that being said, one would be foolish to rule out Khan making the impossible seem possible. 

Simmons, on the other hand, would come on a much more team-friendly contract and would likely require less in return from the Steelers. He is far from the same type of game-changing defender as Baker, but is a highly talented player who has the ability to play a plethora of positions such as off-ball linebacker, slot corner, safety, and edge rusher. 

Where Would Simmons Fit Best For The Steelers?

The Steelers would benefit greatly from having an off-ball linebacker who possesses the necessary speed to cover receivers in space such as Simmons. Furthermore, with Cam Sutton and Arthur Maulet no longer on the team, there is a need for a reliable nickel cornerback to challenge Chandon Sullivan for the starting spot. 

While Simmons has not necessarily lived up to his hype of being a top-10 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, he is still only 24 years old and has plenty of football left in him. If the Steelers were able to somehow acquire him, he would immediately serve as an upgrade over Sullivan at slot corner and pretty much any inside linebacker on the roster in terms of speed. He could perhaps fit as the final puzzle piece to a defense that is well-equipped to dominate opponents in 2023. 

Thoughts, Steeler Nation?

How would you feel about the Steelers making a trade for either Baker or Simmons? Do you think the defense is fine the way it is? Do you think Khan wants to make one last move before the season starts? Let us know in the comments! 

#SteelerNation