Steelers Finally Able To Make Huge Trade To Improve The Defense During The 2025 Offseason

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a couple of positions that need to be an absolute priority throughout the 2025 offseason. Some need to be dramatically upgraded, while other areas just need some improved depth. This can be tackled through free agency, or the 2025 NFL Draft. Pittsburgh has eight selections in the event, and currently sits within the top-10 in cap space for the 2025 season. This also makes the Steelers a big player on the trade market, as they can take on most contracts and have the draft capital needed to get deals done.

One of the top areas that needs to be addressed in Pittsburgh is upgrading the defensive line, while also ensuring there is some quality depth behind the unit. Cameron Heyward is the best player in the group by far, but he is nearing the end of his playing career. The Steelers will likely look to bring in some talent from the NFL Draft, possibly even a first-round pick. In addition to that, Jonathan Allen of the Washington Commanders became available via trade on Tuesday morning.

Allen is entering the final year of his deal in 2025, and none of the money he is expected to be given is guaranteed. This makes him an obvious candidate for release, but he is still one of the better defensive tackles in the league. Washington got younger in 2024, and it could be reasonable to assume Allen is no longer in the organization's future plans.

Another reason Washington is likely considering trading Allen is the fact that the defensive tackle class in the 2025 NFL Draft is deeper than it has ever been. The Commanders can find a replacement for their veteran defensive tackle early in the draft, which would obviously make more sense financially.

The veteran defensive tackle is about to be entering his ninth season in the NFL, but he is still effective on the interior of the defensive line. He doesn't get the shine that Chris Jones does, but Allen has steadily been one of the better defensive lineman in the league. He played in only eight games during the 2024 season and recorded three sacks, three tackles for loss, and 19 total tackles. His effectiveness in helping stop the run is also something that doesn't show up on the stat sheet.

The Steelers are borderline desperate for help on the defensive line, as the group struggled mightily against the run late in the 2024 season. There will be plenty of options in free agency and through the draft, but Allen might be the best option available to Pittsburgh. 

Steelers Should Be Able To Land Jonathan Allen For A Day 3 Pick

There have not been very many notable trades for defensive tackles in recent history. The latest one that might apply when trying to access the value of Allen is when the Indianapolis Colts sent a first-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for DeForest Buckner. The Colts sent the 49ers the 13th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and Bucker was coming off of a Second Team All-Pro selection in 2019.

Buckner and Allen are the same age, and Allen has never been named an All-Pro in his NFL career. The Steelers should not expect to have to give up anything higher than a fourth-round pick for Allen, but Pittsburgh also has three seventh-round selections. One of those can be thrown in to sweeten the pot if needed. Assuming Pittsburgh had interest in a trade for Allen, the organization would likely look to work on a new deal so the veteran was not only under contract through 2025.

What do you think of trading for Allen? Let us know in the comments below!

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