If every player became available for trade, the Pittsburgh Steelers would have no shortage of players who could fetch at least a first-round pick, according to one prominent NFL analyst.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell attempted to look at each NFL team and determine how much every major player on each franchise would be worth in a trade. In this unique and fun look around the league, the Steelers have six players mentioned as guys who would likely garner a first-round pick in a trade.
While some of the players
Barnwell highlighted might seem obvious to Steelers fans, there are a few younger players that might surprise you. The Steelers that Barnwell listed as being worth a first-round pick were: Keeanu Benton, Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, Derrick Harmon, Nick Herbig, and Joey Porter Jr.
“Having invested heavily along the line of scrimmage in the draft over the past few years, the Steelers are loaded with talented young linemen on both sides of the ball. Fautanu established himself as a very good right tackle in his first full season, and if he can hold up under the strain of a potential move to left tackle this year, he would be worth even more in a potential swap,” Barnwell wrote. “Porter’s the one player off the line of scrimmage here, and I can see Steelers fans wanting more.”
The Steelers are a bit unique from most teams in the sense that while they don’t necessarily have anyone who could garner multiple firsts, they have a bevy of young talent who are valuable and have yet to hit the prime of their career.
DK Metcalf and TJ Watt were listed as missing out. Barnwell cited the fact that the Steelers gave up a second-round pick for Metcalf just a year ago, coupled with a disappointing season that could limit his trade market. Watt is on a contract worth over 40 million dollars per season, will turn 32 in October, and has seen his production dip in each of the last few seasons.
It’s hard to imagine that the Steelers would trade any of the players that ESPN has labeled as being worth a first-round pick, but it is interesting to examine their perceived value. Herbig has already been given a four-year extension by the franchise, and reports suggest that the Steelers are interested in extending both Porter Jr. and Benton. Fautanu and Frazier were both drafted in 2024 and have established themselves as key pieces on the Steelers’ offensive line entering year three. Harmon was a standout rookie who will be a key contributor with a fully healthy second season, especially if he can develop further as a pass rusher.
If nothing else, this exercise puts into perspective that the Steelers have a solid young core at some of the most important positions in football.
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