3 Players Steelers Must Consider Trading at 2022 NFL Deadline
The Pittsburgh Steelers can accelerate their rebuild by offloading a few players for draft picks ahead of the 2022 NFL trade deadline.
The Steelers could go into their Week 9 bye with a 2-6 record and with the playoffs being a pipe dream as Kenny Pickett works through the adjustment issues of being a rookie quarterback in the NFL.
Mike Tomlin and his staff may face a difficult decision with Chase Claypool. He could help Pickett grow into his game in the NFL, but the Steelers have George Pickens ready to take over the No. 2 wide receiver role.
Claypool is probably the most intriguing trade target on the Steelers roster because he does not become a free agent until 2024.
Other Steelers trade targets could be coveted by other teams as short-term fixes because injuries have hurt them in 2022.
That should be true when it comes to Mason Rudolph, who could serve another team as a decent backup quarterback for the next two months.
Chase Claypool
The Steelers have the ideal situation in place to offload Chase Claypool before the trade deadline.
George Pickens' development is coming along nicely, and a Claypool trade would open up targets for him to work with his fellow rookie Kenny Pickett.
Claypool should be coveted by a few teams with a wide receiver need because he is still on his rookie contract for another season.
Any suitor would not have to break the bank to land Claypool, who would likely bring in one Day 2 draft pick or multiple Day 3 selections.
Claypool is currently behind Pickens, Diontae Johnson and Pat Freiermuth in receiving yardage, which speaks to the depth the Steelers have in their pass-catching ranks.
Pittsburgh likely will not contend for a playoff spot, and it makes sense to offload Claypool at what could be his highest trade price before he even starts to negotiate a new contract.
Mason Rudolph
Few teams have a No. 3 quarterback as experienced as Mason Rudolph.
The Steelers did not trade Rudolph in the offseason despite acquiring Mitchell Trubisky to start in front of and then back up Pickett.
Pittsburgh has no business keeping Rudolph past Tuesday's deadline unless Pickett gets seriously hurt in Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Rudolph may not play anywhere he lands, but he could at least be active each week in a backup role.
Rudolph is still good enough to be a backup in the NFL, and the Steelers would be wise to grab a late-round draft pick in exchange for the impending free agent.
Terrell Edmunds
The Steelers face a tough choice to either extend the contract of Terrell Edmunds or trade him for draft picks.
Edmunds had his fifth-year option declined, so he is scheduled to become a free agent at the end of the season.
Pittsburgh already has $73 million invested in safety with Minkah Fitzpatrick, and it may be hard to justify spending so much money in one position.
The Steelers may be able to afford it because most of their star offensive players are on rookie deals, but they have to think a few years down the road when it comes to extending Edmunds.
A new contract may sound great right now, but what if the Steelers do not have enough capital to re-sign Pickett, Pickens and others if the rebuilding plan works to perfection?
Edmunds could land the Steelers a decent haul of draft picks on the trade market, and the Steelers could trade him away to contend for a Super Bowl and then bring him back in 2023.