Pat Freiermuth may not be available, but who would the Steelers trade?
The Steelers are not willing to trade Pat Freiermuth despite interest around the league, reportedly. But who would they trade? Given the change we have seen in recent years, it’s reasonable to assume they are open to it. Just last year, they traded George Pickens and Minkah Fitzpatrick, after all.
While Steelers GM Omar Khan downplayed the salary cap situation, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if someone wanted to trade for Jonnu Smith. Having two tight ends making eight-figure salaries while splitting production just didn’t work last year. Yet Mike DeFabo, who reported on Freiermuth, also says the league sources believe the Steelers when they say they won’t trade any of their pass rushers.
The offseason requires sacrifices to the news cycle when the actual news dries up, giving birth to lists and speculation. That’s why you probably read a bit ago the notion that the Steelers could trade DK Metcalf, which isn’t happening.
But this is a new regime, and that means new ideas, new philosophies, new schemes, new priorities, and new preferences. We don’t fully know all the implications of that, and perhaps even they’re figuring that out. Any major change, however, could lead to personnel shakeup. And that means the Steelers could be open to entertaining a trade you wouldn’t expect.
Not, say, Joey Porter Jr. or anything like that, but if the right offer came along? Last year, they moved Minkah Fitzpatrick in return for players. We’ve seen other teams this year already agree to player-for-player trades as part of the fallout of regime changes. What if the Steelers could trade for a starting cornerback, but it meant giving up one of their edge rushers?
Then again, it’s hard to look at this roster and see a ton of tough at many positions. Sure, on paper, you have a good group of tight ends and outside linebackers. Maybe the Steelers could even afford to trade an inside linebacker, if anybody wanted them. And if someone were willing to take on Jalen Ramsey’s salary, maybe they feel they could put that to good use elsewhere. Yet Omar Khan already confirmed that Ramsey will be with the team this year. Not that it would be the first time a team did one thing after saying another.
The Steelers exited the playoffs in the first round yet again, a pattern going back to 2017.With seven consecutive postseason losses, and no wins in nearly a decade, they are facing another long, long offseason. No doubt we will see many changes, but none will top Mike Tomlin resigning.
The NFL has crowned its latest champion, but for us and the Steelers, we have been in offseason mode. That’s what happens when the team you coverloses by the middle of January all the time, but you’ve been around, so you know that already. Enjoy the ride, even the turbulence, because it’s the only way we know how to travel anymore.
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