Bill Barnwell’s proposed trade in a recent ESPN article has the Steelers trading up from 21 in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft to Miami at 11 overall. A bold take within an article meant to propose bold scenarios.
His rationale for such a move is to highlight Pittsburgh's assumed desire to move up to get Ohio State superstar Caleb Downs, should the premier safety fall to 11.
No one can question Downs' ability, so much so, it would be incredibly odd to see a player of his talent fall that far. Many have him going to Cincinnati at 8. But even if such a scenario presents itself, the Steelers making a move would ignore the reality that Pittsburgh has already spent the last month aggressively overhauling its secondary with veteran starters.
Between signing Jaquan Brisker to a $5.5 million deal in March, and adding Darnell Savage, and already having Jalen Ramsey and DeShon Elliott under contract for the 2026 season, the Steelers have effectively announced they're set at the position.
Downs is a great fit for a defense geared toward versatility
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But talent is talent. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writer Gerry Dulac even hinted at the idea of the Steelers trading up for a safety.
While he didn't say it, Downs clearly would be the ideal target for such a move. In a defense led by Patrick Graham that will likely employ versatile defensive backs, Downs is the type of player who can take on multiple roles, giving the defense schematic depth.
The cost of the proposal, in Barnwell's hypothetical, is the Steelers' third-round pick in 2026, and a second-round pick in 2027. That is, more or less, what the Steelers gave in 2020 when they moved up 10 spots with Denver to select Devin Bush.
While that might have been one of the worst decisions in Steelers history, very few would argue Bush the prospect then is on the level of Downs the prospect today.