The Pittsburgh Steelers were making headwaves in the moments leading up to this year's trade deadline. They dealt third-year receiver, Chase Claypool to the Chicago Bears in return for a 2023 2nd-round draft pick. Although the moves the Steelers made were extremely out of character compared to years past, they significantly made this team better in the long run.
Wide receiver Chase Claypool catches a pass during the Steelers' Week 6 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Many fans including myself were ecstatic when the news broke about Claypool getting sent to Chicago, but this wasn't just any move. It is showing that the front office has come to terms with where the team was at so far this season and realized this year won't likely be ending with the Lombardi Trophy coming back to Pittsburgh for a seventh time.
It was tough to see a talented receiver like Claypool leave, but with a 2nd-round pick in return and a team with significant holes on both sides of the ball, moves like this are going to expedite the rebuild and get the Steelers back on track. This team will have many needs this coming off-season and three draft picks in the first 45 selections will give them a huge boost.
As much of a step in the right direction this transaction was, I believe the Steelers still missed a prime opportunity to trade away pieces that could've given them even more draft capital for next season.
Which Additional Player Should The Steelers Have Traded Away Before The Trade Deadline?
I believe this week was the perfect opportunity for the Steelers to move on from third-string quarterback, Mason Rudolph. Rudolph's contract is set to expire at the end of this season and the Steelers are currently paying Rudolph just over $5 million this year which is not a significant amount for a backup in the NFL, but the issue is that he has been inactive every game so far this season.
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 14: Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs out on to the field prior to the start of the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
It is inevitable Rudolph and the Steelers will part ways this off-season, so it came as a surprise to many that the Steelers wouldn't have tried to trade him away and get a late-round draft pick in return. Rudolph wouldn't bring in anywhere near the return that Claypool did, but I would have taken any draft choice for him if I was general manager, Omar Khan.
Should The Steelers Have Looked Into Moving Mitch Trubisky Instead?
There was some speculation that backup quarterback, Mitch Trubisky would give the Steelers the biggest return. I believe that to be true, but I still think the best option would have been to trade Rudolph.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks, Mitch Trubisky (#10), and Mason Rudolph (#2), participate in 2022 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Trubisky is under contract through next season making just over $7 million per year which is a very team-friendly contract. It is hard to see the Steelers re-signing Rudolph this off-season with Trubisky still on the roster, so it would've made more sense to get rid of Rudolph instead of Trubisky this season and then open the possibility of trading Trubisky next season if there is a strong market for backup quarterbacks.
At the end of the day, we need to tip our caps to the front office on a job well done. It is hard to see former general manager Kevin Colbert making moves like what we saw this past week before the deadline. The Steelers are setting the table to have a tremendous off-season and brighter days are ahead for sports fans in Pittsburgh.
What do you think? Do you think the Steelers should've traded Rudolph while they had the chance? Tell us what you think in the comment section below or on my Twitter @collinlschmitt.
#SteelerNation
