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The Pittsburgh Steelers are approaching the NFL trade deadline with a major need to address. Come November 2nd, all trades must be completed. Let's take a look at what the Steelers should do to improve ahead of Tuesday's deadline.
Pittsburgh is off to a rough start so far this season. They sit at 3-3 and are currently last in the AFC North division. This division is stacked but the Steelers could easily find themselves in contention or not at all. These next few weeks are crucial for the black and yellow.
There are a lot of options the Steelers could look at. The team is not playing at the level they thought they would. The blame goes around, but it's easy to point the finger at quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The lack of success isn't all coming from him. It's going to be very difficult to replace him at this point in the season, so the team will need to find a better way to upgrade the roster. They have plenty of weapons on offense; upgrading the defense seems like the smartest route to go.
Steelers’ biggest need heading into NFL Trade Deadline
Interior Defensive Lineman
The Steelers need to address their interior defensive line. Cameron Heyward and TJ Watt are playing on the edge a majority of the time. Of Course, Heyward slides in and plays more of a hybrid role when needed. Those two are really the only ones providing much production so far. The team placed Stephon Tuitt and Tyson Alualu on injured reserve and doesn't expect them back any time soon. If the Steelers were to go out and upgrade the defensive tackle position, then this defense would be very elite.
The Steelers proved that they had the top defense in football last year when they started the season 11-0. Pittsburgh dominated everyone and the defense led the team. They forced turnovers and kept opponents out of the endzone pretty easily. The Steelers need to get back to their 2020 selves—a defense that would force fumbles and scoop-and-score while intercepting multiple passes a game. They really aren't far off from that peak. They just need a little bit of depth to put themselves in a better position to be successful.
The defensive line is a huge part of a defense. Providing pressure on the quarterback and forcing him to escape the pocket or throw bad passes is a major part of the game. Heyward and Watt are as elite as it gets and are constantly making their presence felt in the backfield. The regular season is one thing, but come playoff time, the Steelers are going to need someone else to step up. Isaiah Buggs and Henry Mondeaux are currently role players at that position. So far this year they aren't providing enough production to put them where they should be.
Let's take a look at some names the team could bring in before the NFL Trade Deadline.
Possible Defensive Tackle Trade Options
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Grady Jarrett, Atlanta Falcons
Jarrett is a name that hasn't been involved in trade talks but would be a great candidate for the Steelers. Through six games he has 18 tackles (15 solo) and one sack. The Falcons are not in a position to contend this year and could consider trading Jarrett if the price was right. Jarrett would come in and instantly make a difference for the Steelers' defensive line.
Javon Hargrave, Philadelphia Eagles
Could a reunion be in place? Hargrave is balling this year with 39 tackles (18 solo) and six sacks, marking yet another season of major improvement. He's getting to the quarterback with ease and providing pressure on just about every snap. I'm sure the Steelers are noticing his production with a new team and would be interested in bringing him back to Pittsburgh.
Poona Ford, Seattle Seahawks
This is a name that doesn't stand out much. Ford is on the list of players who are under the radar. He has 21 tackles (10 solo) on the year but doesn't have any sacks. It's the potential of Ford that puts him in this conversation. The Seahawks are struggling this year and could be willing to let him go. It wouldn't cost much at all to bring Ford to Pittsburgh.
