It will take a miracle at this point for the Pittsburgh Steelers to make the playoffs this season. Sitting at 2-6 heading into their bye week, it's quite unrealistic to envision a trip to the postseason. After the latest blowout loss against the Philadelphia Eagles, the hopes for this season somehow got even worse.
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General manager Omar Khan remained quite active in the trade market, as the deadline passed on Tuesday. It wasn't completely sell-mode either, as Khan acquired cornerback William Jackson III from the Washington Commanders. The two sides have been heavily linked dating a few years back to the 2016 NFL Draft. Now, Jackson is finally a Steeler, albeit when he's now 30 years old with a few more years on his body.
Khan did move a piece as well, trading away talented wide receiver, Chase Claypool to the Chicago Bears. While the team will miss his presence as the third wideout in the offense, it was a deal too difficult to pass up. In return, the Steelers got the Bears' own second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. That's obviously quite valuable, as the Bears are unlikely to make the playoffs. That means the pick will likely be an early second-rounder.
In the days leading up to the trade deadline, there were discussions amongst fans on whether the Steelers should explore the market for their star defensive lineman, Cam Heyward. That didn't take place, as 93.7 The Fan's Andrew Fillipponi even reported that an NFC team reached out on his availability. They were rejected by Khan, which was a smart choice.
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At 33 years old, Heyward would not have netted the Steelers an early round draft pick. It likely would have been a pick more in the middle rounds, which just doesn't make it worth it for the black and gold. While this season seems lost, the 12-year veteran remains an important piece for this team moving forward. It goes just beyond his five Pro Bowl appearances, three All-Pro selections, and his overall on-field impact.
Surely if he were gone, the defensive line would struggle immensely. He continues to be the team's best and most consistent member on that part of the defense, even if his play has shown a slight decline in 2022. Beyond all of that though, he is the team's leader in the locker room. Head coach Mike Tomlin shoulders those responsibilities, but from a player aspect, Heyward is that guy.
As this is clearly a transitional period for the team, it makes that kind of impact even more important. Over the past few years, they've lost Maurkice Pouncey, Ben Roethlisberger, and a few others to retirement. As a result, Heyward is the main veteran left from those talented early-2010 teams. Contrary to the thought from some that they should move him, not trading Cam Heyward was a much-needed non-move by Omar Khan.
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Do you agree with this? If not, why do you think the team should have traded Heyward? What kind of draft pick do you think they could have gotten in return? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below, as well as on our social media sites!
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