Just when we thought he was done, Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan strikes again. That's right, he has traded away offensive lineman Kendrick Green to the Houston Texans. No, not cut, but traded, which was first reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Pelissero's counterpart Ian Rapoport later reported that the compensation is a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. It's crazy to think Khan got something in return.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / x: @JSKO_Photo)
Just like that, the Steelers have traded both offensive linemen Kendrick Green and Kevin Dotson in the matter of a few days.
Green has struggled during his time in Pittsburgh. He's now officially one of two linemen that Khan has now traded away in the past few days. Over the weekend, it was left guard Kevin Dotson that was sent away to the Los Angeles Rams for an upgrade of a round on two separate draft picks. It was a disappointing tenure in Pittsburgh for Green as mentioned, as he failed to live up to that billing of a third-round draft pick. He was a bit raw coming out of Illinois, and that never fully materialized.
Trade! The #Steelers traded OL Kendrick Green to the #Texans, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 29, 2023
While he's a bit undersized, his athleticism was particularly appealing for the Steelers. It's what led the team to trying him out at different positions, which included left guard last season and then even fullback this summer. He became a sudden fan favorite in Latrobe, but it didn't last long. Green put up a few poor performances in the preseason games, and from there, it seemed like the writing was on the wall for his time in Pittsburgh.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / x: @JSKO_PHOTO)
The depth behind Steelers center Mason Cole remains a concern, as he was able to start all 17 games there in 2022.
The team tried its best for things to work out, but Green just wasn't good enough. Now, a recurring question remains: who will be the backup center behind Mason Cole? Green hadn't played center since 2021, when he started 15 games there. Still, he had experience at the position, more than anyone else on the roster behind Cole. The team's depth chart had him listed as the second-string center.
Where Do The Steelers Go From Here At The Center Position?
As of now, it seems like Nate Herbig could be the guy there. Earlier this offseason, Khan signed Herbig to a two-year, $8 million deal. That's a lot of money for a backup, but he will be just that at guard, as well as possibly center. Of course, Khan and the front office could still be searching the market for a backup center as that could become a major concern if Cole were to miss any games.
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Nate Herbig meets with the media for his first time as a Pittsburgh Steelers lineman.
Khan continues what has been an active offseason for the Steelers. One thing is clear: he's not afraid to ship guys out and maximize value for the team. We've seen it multiple times, and he's only been general manager for over a year. Perhaps this one though, getting a sixth-rounder for Kendrick Green, will excite the fan base in Pittsburgh the most.
What is yinz's reactions to Khan getting value out of both Green and Dotson? Should the team still be looking on the market for a backup center? What would you grade Green's two seasons with the Steelers? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
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