The Pittsburgh Steelers will put the final big touches on their roster in less than three week’s time during the 2026 NFL Draft. While other additions will take place between then and Week 1, the. most notable additions will come via the annual selection meeting. However there very well could be multiple notable departures, and these four names in specific are trade candidates to keep an eye on.
QB Mason Rudolph
Steelers fans did a complete 180 on Rudolph in his return to Pittsburgh after a one-year stint with the
Tennessee Titans. After a 2023 season that saw the Oklahoma State product lead the Steelers to three straight wins to close out the season which lead to a playoff berth, the once-ridiculed quarterback became beloved to the fanbase. That said, with it looking very likely that the Steelers will draft a quarterback, combined with Will Howard already being on the roster and the heavy expectations of Aaron Rodgers returning in 2026, Rudolph would be the odd man out in a four-quarterback battle.
S DeShon Elliott
Elliott made a major impact upon arrival in 2024, earning an extension on his contract midway through the first year of a two-year deal. Unfortunately, 2025 was an injury-plagued one for the former Raven. Elliott missed 12 games due to multiple injuries, which led to Pittsburgh having to try multiple different safety alignments, trades, and signings at the position. The Steelers signed Jaquan Brisker to a one-year deal, and his skillset is quite similar to that of Elliott. Perhaps Pittsburgh is hoping to pull off a similar deal with Brisker that they did with Elliott in 2024 while moving Jalen Ramsey back to play safety alongside him.
EDGE Alex Highsmith
The Steelers would save roughly $8 million against the cap if they traded Highsmith for draft picks. Nick Herbig is in line for an extension and has earned a starting role. Keeping him at No. 3 when he is arguably the No. 1 edge rusher on the roster would be malpractice. The Steelers aren’t trading T.J. Watt, so Highsmith would be the next option. If they can get a late Day Two or early Day Three Pick in 2027 in exchange for the Charlotte product, the move should be made.
LB Patrick Queen
Queen is entering the final year of his deal, and it’s highly unlikely he will be a Steeler after 2026 once he hits the open market. Should the Steelers address off-ball linebacker with one of their five top 100 picks in the 2026 Draft, Queen would become a name to really keep an eye on. Keep in mind that he also changed his representation within the last week. All of these factors add up to a potential trade.
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