Behind the Steel Curtain
Even though we are in the midst of the NFL’s dead period, the Pittsburgh Steelers showed that there is no true “dead period” in a sport where anything can happen at any time.
Next week will mark one year since the Steelers and Miami Dolphins pulled off a trade that sent Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith to Pittsburgh in exchange for Minkah Fitzpatrick, as well as draft picks going both ways. If there is anything we can count on from the Steelers, it’s that they’ll make a trade – or multiple trades. There are several top guys that could be circled as potential targets, as well as current Steelers who could be dealt in return in deals that would shake up the Steelers’ roster and raise their overall ceiling. In totality, I would focus on these players and potential trades:
The Cardinals are about to trot out some combination of Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, and Carson Beck at quarterback – those aren’t the actions of an organization that expects to win a lot of games. Baker is entering his 10th year in the league, all of which have been spent in Arizona. In that time, he’s been part of precisely one playoff game, a lopsided loss to the Los Angeles Rams to end the Cardinals’ 2021 season. As he enters the final years of his career, the two-time All-Pro should go somewhere he can compete. And while the Steelers’ haven’t won a postseason game in their own right since the 2016 season, they are always in the picture or playing in January. They need another safety to put alongside Jaquan Brisker and DeShon Elliott, and an eight-time Pro Bowler would be a welcome addition.
Projected trade:
Similarly to Arizona, the Dolphins aren’t positioning themselves to contend for anything outside of the No. 1 overall pick. Brooks led the NFL in tackles in 2025 and has established himself as one of the best MIKE linebackers in the league today, and wouldn’t it be something to see these two franchises come together for another big trade nearly on year to the day of doing it in 2025?
Projected trade:
And should this trade come to be, well then…
Speaking of teams not afraid to make a trade, hello, Los Angeles. Les Snead and Sean McVay have already acquired Trent McDuffie and Myles Garrett this offseason, and adding Queen would help improve the worst unit on their roster. Nate Landman began the year hot, but fizzled out in the final two months of 2025 into the postseason. Queen would be a notable upgrade for a team going all in over the next two seasons to...
