Steelers Named Landing Spot for Broncos Star DB
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers could be looking for secondary help during the trade deadline, and a new name has made it's way to their list of possibilities.
With many eyes on Patrick Surtain II as a potential option for Pittsburgh, Sports Illustrated's Connor Orr believes there's another defensive back the Steelers should be targeting. In his piece listing the nine ideal trades at the deadline, he names Denver safety Justin Simmons as a move for the black and gold.
"While this may seem odd, given that the Steelers are settled at the position, Simmons could break open the defense and allow all of its component parts to spread their wings," Orr writes. "Safeties are valuable, especially rangy ones, in a division where the more physical the secondary, the better its chances of survival. Pittsburgh is not one offensive upgrade away from becoming an elite offense, but Simmons could get the Steelers to the territory where, if Pittsburgh makes the playoffs as a low seed, it would have a better chance of completely upending an opponent by showing them something they haven’t shown all season, or simply overwhelming them with experience in the secondary and creating that critical turnover. This would remind me a little of when they plucked Minkah Fitzpatrick away from the Dolphins in 2019."
Orr says a third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft should be enough to get the deal done for the Steelers.
Simmons, 29, has been an absolute game-changer for the Broncos since joining the team in 2016. Starting 98 games throughout his career, the three-time All-Pro has 562 tackles and 28 interceptions.
Pittsburgh would have to readjust with Damontae Kazee and Keanu Neal, but with Fitzpatrick moving around the secondary more this season, the move could give the Steelers options to help on defense.
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