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:
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Trade for Arizona Cardinals S Budda Baker
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:
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Cardinals receive: 2027 fifth-round pick, 2028 fifth-round pick
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Steelers receive: S Budda Baker
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Trade for Miami Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks
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:
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Dolphins receive: 2027 fourth-round pick, 2028 fifth-round pick
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Steelers receive: LB Jordyn Brooks, 2027 sixth-round pick
And should this trade come to be, well then…
Trade LB Patrick Queen to Los Angeles Rams
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 win a championship while Matthew Stafford is still there and playing at a high level.
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Queen is in the final year of his deal with Pittsburgh, and it would be a shock, to say the least, if he returned in 2027. That said, I would only trade him if they acquired Brooks to ensure having a high-quality player at the position.
Projected trade:
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Rams receive: LB Patrick Queen
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Steelers receive: 2027 fourth-round pick
The best case scenario for Roman Wilson is that he’s the No. 4 wide receiver on Pittsburgh’s depth chart. Considering he was a healthy scratch for almost the entire month of December, only coming back when DK Metcalf was suspended. The ceiling is low for him in Pittsburgh. Send him back to his college coach Jim Harbaugh where he may be used a bit more in a Chargers’ receiving corps that is much thinner in talent than the Steelers.
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Projected trade:
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Chargers receive: WR Roman Wilson
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Steelers receive: 2028 fifth-round pick
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
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