The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a very rough start to the 2023 season. Headed into their Week 9 matchup with the Tennessee Titans, they are sitting at 4-3 in the AFC North (second place). The Baltimore Ravens, at 6-2, sit solidly in first place. Between a frightfully inconsistent offense, a ghostly disappearing act with the secondary, and some massively scary injuries, the Steelers are living "spooky seasons" in more ways than one. With the trade deadline approaching on October 31st, the team is faced with the need to pick up a player to help shore up a weak area.
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Steelers outside linebacker TJ Watt scoops up a loose ball in the fourth quarter during Week 2 in 2023 against the Cleveland Browns.
Weak areas are the one thing the Steelers abound in. Frankly other than the edge duo of Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt, there are no areas that are consistently shining. On top of the inconsistencies, the injuries keep piling up - including defensive lineman Cam Heyward, and tight end Pat Freiermuth. During the Week 8 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, both quarterback Kenny Pickett and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick left the game. Pickett with a rib injury, his status is unknown for Week 9, and Fitzpatrick with a hamstring injury that will likely keep him out for a few weeks.
So who do the Steelers look to make a trade for before the deadline that can help fill some holes? On social media, fans are demanding trades for almost every position, but that is not realistic. The "Steelers Way" has never been to sell our future to fix today. If they do make a trade, it will be to fill a critical need, but it will also financially make sense. Here are some possible trades they might consider.
Steelers Could Use A Tight End
Pittsburgh has not had much success since Freiermuth went out with a hamstring injury that was sustained during the Steelers' loss to the Houston Texans. Freiermuth is a favorite target of Pickett, and it is obvious that he is missing having him on the field, even with veteran receiver Diontae Johnson back. Hybrid tight end/fullback Connor Heyward has been the most productive, and that's not saying much since he only has 89 yards this season.
When Freiermuth was injured, they promoted second-year player Rodney Williams from the practice squad, plus they have rookie Darnell Washington. Most fans seem confused as to why the giant 6'7" 265 lb. Washington isn't getting more targets. Perhaps Head Coach Mike Tomlin doesn't think he is quite ready. Regardless, they need help.
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Tight end Austin Hooper is currently with the Raiders, but has also played for the Falcons and the Browns.
That is where Austin Hooper comes in. Hooper is currently with the Las Vegas Raiders and is being edged out by Michael Mayer. Hooper is a solid blocker, something that Freiermuth isn't especially good at even when he isn't hurt. This means that he could provide some lasting contributions even upon Freiermuth's return.
He is also affordable because he is on a one-year contract with the Raiders. Hooper is by no means a replacement for Freiermuth, but he is a solid stop-gap that can provide help in a weak area and a fresh target for Pickett.
Steelers Need Help On The Defensive Line
The injury and subsequent surgery to (Cam) Heyward only highlighted the need to have someone solid to step in for him. Pittsburgh's defensive line wasn't the most solid one in the NFL to begin with, and losing someone who contributes as much as Heyward was a blow they haven't been able to recover from.
Ron Chenoy
The Steelers need help on the defensive line and John Jenkins is a possible solution.
While rookie Keeanu Benton has been fairly solid filling in, they still need depth. One possibility is John Jenkins, also from the Raiders. Jenkins is a veteran at 34 years old, but he is solid at stopping the run.
Originally a third-round pick in 2013, Jenkins has played for several teams including the New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears and the Seattle Seahawks. He is currently on a one-year contract with the Raiders for about $1.3 million, which makes him affordable too.
Steelers Need Secondary Help
While the Steelers run defense has struggled since the Heyward injury, the secondary defense has been doing its impression of Swiss cheese. The Steelers brought Patrick Peterson in during the offseason to bring a veteran presence and help stop the bleeding. It hasn't worked. While Peterson is being used in a more "hybrid" role where he plays a bit of everything, he isn't doing any of them well. His counterpart Levi Wallace has also been highly inconsistent.
In his weekly press conference heading into Week 9, Tomlin said we can expect to see more of rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr., however, Porter can't do it all. That is why they should consider picking up Jaylon Johnson from the Bears.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers may be looking to the Chicago Bears and cornerback Jaylon Johnson for a 2023 trade.
Surely the Bears aren't still mad about the whole Chase Claypool thing and are willing to wheel and deal with General Manager Omar Khan again. He is one of the best corners available on the trade market right now. He is a fourth-year player who will be a free agent after the 2023 season, which means he should be available for a fair price. Through Week 7, Johnson has a grade of 84.4 from Pro Football Focus.
The Steelers are definitely on the clock if they are hoping to make a trade. It seems likely that Tomlin, Khan, and the rest of the front office staff will burn the midnight oil, hoping to find a trade that makes sense.
One thing that should make Steelers fans feel good is that since taking over as general manager, Khan has consistently made moves that work in Pittsburgh's favor. Fingers crossed he has some more magic left in him!
Who would you like to see the Steelers trade for? What do you see as a fair value for that player? Click to comment below!
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