Steelers Acquiring Pro Bowler Via Trade From Falcons Makes Perfect Sense

The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to be one of the teams to watch during the 2026 NFL Draft as the organization holds 12 selections in the event. It is almost a certainty that the franchise won't be drafting 12 players, so General Manager Omar Khan will probably be working the phones trying to find trade partners. The Steelers can use this arsenal of picks to move up in the event, trade for players from other teams, or acquire additional draft capital for the 2027 NFL Draft. The draft class in 2027 is highly praised, so that is going to be a goal for a lot of teams near the end of April.

Everyone is always going to focus on the first round of the NFL Draft, especially when it comes to potential splash moves. However, the Steelers could make some noise on Day 2 or Day 3 of the draft. There are a few teams out there who do not have a ton of draft capital this year that might be looking for more, and that is something Khan and Pittsburgh can take advantage of. One of those teams is the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta has just five picks in the draft, and its first selection is not until the 48th overall pick. Beat writer Marc Raimondi of ESPN spoke about the Falcons' potential draft strategy.

"Do not be surprised if the Falcons find a way to trade down, or even trade a player for more picks," Raimondi wrote. "New general manager Ian Cunningham has been very clear about his affinity for more selections, noting that the Bears went from five picks to 10 in his first year working for Chicago. Atlanta's offseason has not been meat and potatoes, as it has built depth and elevated the team's floor with an eye toward future flexibility. Expect more of that strategy in the draft."

Atlanta hired a new general manager during the 2026 offseason in Ian Cunningham, who was with the Chicago Bears beforehand working under Ryan Poles. Cunningham has done business with the Steelers before as an assistant general manager, with the trades involving Chase Claypool and Justin Fields being the most notable moves between the two sides as of late.

Cunningham could look to acquire more draft capital by moving on from a player, and there are a few players on the Falcons roster that could be moved. First is a pair of Pro Bowlers in tight end Kyle Pitts and safety Jessie Bates III. Pitts was franchise tagged during the 2026 offseason and there is a chance that the organization could trade him somewhere that would give him a long-term deal. Bates is entering the final year of his current contract and could be moved, and the Steelers have expressed interest at adding to the safety position.

Other potential trade candidates for Atlanta could include inside linebackers Divine Deablo or Christian Harris. The Steelers may want to add at this spot, especially if the team ends up parting ways with Patrick Queen.

Steelers Could Also Include Players In A Trade With Atlanta

A move like trading for Pitts wouldn't make much sense for Pittsburgh with the way the roster currently looks. It would be like adding a better version of Jonnu Smith to the tight end room. A move for Pitts could also include parting ways with Pat Freiermuth, as the Atlanta tight end has more upside. The Falcons could like this move as Freiermuth is already under contract, and he is less expensive than Pitts will end up being. This scenario is far-fetched, but it might look like a swap of the players while the Steelers also give up some capital in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Another player that could be included for the Steelers is Queen, as the Falcons have already shown interest in the inside linebacker. The Steelers trading Queen for anything other than 2027 draft capital seems unlikely. The organization already paid Queen a $2.5 million bonus on the third day of the new league year.

Would you want any player from Atlanta in a potential trade? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

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