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Shocking Trade Ideas Steelers Should Pursue Before 2023 Season

Joe Tansey

The Pittsburgh Steelers have done a fantastic job building their roster around Kenny Pickett.

The latest example of that was the Allen Robinson II trade with the Los Angeles Rams prior to the 2023 NFL draft.

Pittsburgh could work the trade market for another offensive addition if it wanted to add more help for its second-year quarterback before the 2023 season begins.

The Steelers could be in the right tackle market if they believe Chukwuma Okorafor is not the answer on that side of the line.

Broderick Jones was drafted in the first round to take over Dan Moore Jr.'s spot on the interior. And if the Steelers really want to make a splash, they could land a better right tackle in a trade to put Pickett in an even better position to succeed.

Trade with Green Bay for Yosh Nijman

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Pittsburgh could go after impending free agents at right tackle in the trade market.

The Steelers could then use those players as one-year rentals, or sign them to contract extensions before next offseason hits.

Yosh Nijman has been an integral piece of the Green Bay Packers offensive line for the last few seasons, and he will be trusted with protecting Jordan Love in his first season as starter.

A Nijman trade would shock the Green Bay fanbase because it would significantly weaken a unit led by an unproven signal-caller.

There is no guarantee of any success in Green Bay, and that could be the risk the Packers take if they want to recoup a draft pick or two for Nijman on the trade market.

The 27-year-old can play both sides of the offensive line, so he would be a perfect fit on the right side opposite Jones.

That would give the Steelers two young offensive line anchors to protect Pickett, and if the move was a success, the franchise would have to seriously consider signing Nijman to a long-term deal.

Deal with Dallas for Terence Steele

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Pittsburgh could take the same properties of a potential Nijman trade and apply them to Terence Steele...with one exception.

The 25-year-old is working his way back from ACL and MCL tears he suffered in December, and that could decrease his free-agent value in 2024.

The Steelers would have to feel 100 percent comfortable with his injury recovery before calling the Dallas Cowboys about a potential trade.

Dallas is more likely to be in a contending position than Green Bay, so a Steele trade seems even more unlikely than a Nijman deal, which in turn makes it all the more shocking of a move.

Steele has played most of his career at right tackle, which is the hole the Steelers would be looking to fill.

Pittsburgh could simply wait until 2024 free agency to land one of these players, but if it feels it can get a head start on the market, a trade would be the way to go.

Take Risk on Isaiah Simmons

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Isaiah Simmons has not lived up to his 2020 draft position.

The No. 8 overall pick in that year's draft has 7.5 sacks in three seasons and one campaign with 70 solo tackles.

Simmons needs a big season to increase his free-agent value, but he may go unrecognized on an Arizona Cardinals team expected to contend for the league's worst record.

Pittsburgh could take a flier on the 24-year-old linebacker in a trade that should not cost much because of his impending free agency.

The Steelers could lose Alex Highsmith in free agency next offseason, so this would be a move to see what Simmons can do before signing him to a new contract, one that may be cheaper than a Highsmith extension.

A potential Simmons deal would be a low-risk, high-reward move for the Steelers. If he does not star in 2023, they could let him walk and only burn a Day 3 draft pick in the process.

   

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