Three Steelers Named Trade Candidates

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers have a few superstars within their, well, pretty deep roster. And even if they aren't making trades with any of them - at least we all believe they aren't - three players in black and gold have found themselves on The Ringers' Trade Value Rankings.

Now, before a player is mentioned, it should be acknowledged that these rankings have more to do with the player being valuable enough to move on from for the team they're currently on, not that The Ringer believes they will be traded.

Although it's not off the table - for two out of the three.

The first time is Kenny Pickett, who falls into the "Our Fans Will Riot if We Trade Them" tier.

"Pickett is another player I had a really hard time with," Sheil Kapadia writes. "He improved throughout his rookie season and performed better than the traditional stats indicate. If nothing else, Pickett looks like a competent starter with a high floor, and he still has three years left on his rookie contract. I think there’s some upside. Pickett’s a player who could shoot up these rankings by season’s end with a strong showing during his second season."

Pickett was named a captain in his second year, and the Steelers have bragged about how well their future looks because they have a quarterback on a rookie contract. Plus, the city of Pittsburgh might actually riot if they did trade.

The next two names are T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick, who are in the "Elite and Expensive" tier.

"Watt missed seven games due to injury last year, but when healthy, he is one of the most disruptive players in the NFL," Kapadia writes. "Over the last five seasons, Watt has ranked first in both sacks (70.5) and QB hits (136). Watt is owed an average of more than $20 million in each of the next three seasons. Teams would gladly pay that for a player of his caliber. In 2018, the Bears gave up a package that included two first-round picks to acquire Khalil Mack from the Raiders. Watt is a couple of years older than Mack was at the time, but that’s the neighborhood we’re shopping in here."

As for Fitzpatrick, who's already been traded once. Could he be moved again? (probably not).

"The Steelers sent the Dolphins a package that included a first-round pick to acquire Fitzpatrick in 2019," Kapadia writes. "Fitzpatrick couldn’t net more now that he’s four years older, could he? I think he could! Fitzpatrick was a good, young player then. Now he’s a three-time All-Pro and hands down the best safety in the NFL. There’s precedent for teams paying up to land talented safeties in their primes. In 2020, the Seahawks sent the Jets a package that included two first-round picks for Jamal Adams. Maybe Fitzpatrick wouldn’t command quite that steep of a price. Then again, this will be his age-27 season, and he’s under contract through 2026. Maybe he would."

You could probably add Watt and Fitzpatrick to the fans would riot category as well because if the Steelers announced either trade, the fanbase wouldn't be smiling.

Watt is believed to be on his way to a second Defensive Player of the Year season, while Fitzpatrick has been the team's second Batman since the second he stepped into the locker room.

Would the Steelers move on from any of the three? Unless Omar Khan is totally changing the game in Pittsburgh, it's a pretty easy assumption to say no.

Oh, and to add another unlikely name to the list, George Pickens just missed but was named an honorable mention.

"Love the talent, could see him making the leap, and it’s entirely possible Pickens will rocket up the list by midseason," Kapadia writes. "But teams had real concerns about his off-field issues during the predraft process, so I just want to be 100 percent sure before including him."

Make sure you bookmark All Steelers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

Diontae Johnson Calls Super Bowl for Steelers

Former Steelers Defender Benched Before First Game

Jaylen Warren Rips Najee Harris Haters

Former Steelers LB Arrested in Georgia

Ravens CB Takes Shot at Steelers QB Kenny Pickett

49ers Offense Gets Major Boost Ahead of Steelers Game

Subscribe to the All Steelers YouTube Channel

Add us as a preferred source on Google