Could the Pittsburgh Steelers pull off this major trade with the Seattle Seahawks?
The Pittsburgh Steelers won the AFC North division title this past season, but it's clear from their Wild Card Round playoff exit that they still have work to do.
The Steelers have holes that need to be addressed on both sides of the ball, and while they made some great moves during the free agency period, they also need to hit big in the NFL Draft.
Fortunately, Pittsburgh owns a hefty 12 picks in this year's draft, so it certainly has a lot of capital to play with going into next week.
It seems rather unlikely that the Steelers will use all of those selections. You have to figure they'll swing a trade at some point, and Mike DeFabo of The Athletic has identified a potential match for them: the Seattle Seahawks.
More specifically, DeFabo thinks it would be a good idea for Pittsburgh to try and trade up for the 32nd overall pick, the final selection of the first round.
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy with owner Art Rooney and general manager Omar Khan. Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images."The Steelers’ second-round pick (No. 53) is worth 106 points. The 32nd pick held by the Seattle Seahawks is worth 184," DeFabo wrote. "To jump 21 spots all the way back into the end of the first round, Pittsburgh could expect to give up its second-round pick (106 points), a mid-third (50 points) and a fourth, 121 (24). That would be a hefty price, but first-round picks come at a premium."
That would certainly be a steep price for the Steelers to pay, especially in a draft class that isn't incredibly talented near the top.
Still, your chances of landing a good player significantly increase if you're able to nab a first-round selection, so this is a trade in which Pittsburgh may express interest.
The Seahawks would probably be intrigued, as well. While the defending Super Bowl champions may just want to take the best player available at No. 32, moving down and collecting that much more draft capital could be ideal for them.
The Steelers have needs at wide receiver, safety and on the interior of their offensive line, and while they have more than enough draft capital to make an attempt at filling those holes, owning an extra first-round pick would certainly be helpful.
Currently, Pittsburgh has the 21st overall selection in the first round. Its next highest draft choice is at No. 53 in Round 2.
Steelers Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Steelers. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.