New Info Reveals Steelers Could See Massive Trade Sending Bengals QB Joe Burrow Out Of The AFC North

The Pittsburgh Steelers felt like the worst team, at least QB wise, in the AFC North for the last several seasons while they were going through a post-Ben Roethlisberger era. As they struggled to find their next franchise quarterback, the Cincinnati Bengals had struck gold with Joe Burrow, and the Baltimore Ravens had found success with Lamar Jackson. At the same time, the Cleveland Browns were paying a massive salary to Deshaun Watson, hoping he could be their answer under center. While the Browns’ quarterback situation has since become far less inspiring in the eyes of many pundits, the Steelers continue to fall behind in the division race at the QB spot.

The Ravens continue to boast a two-time MVP in Jackson, while the Bengals still have Burrow, who has proven to be one of the league’s best quarterbacks when healthy. The Steelers’ search for stability at quarterback has been a stark contrast to the success their division rivals have enjoyed. Pittsburgh fans have watched as their once-dominant team struggled to compete against the dynamic offenses led by Burrow and Jackson. The division’s landscape has made the need for a game-changing quarterback even more urgent for the Steelers.

New insight from NFL insider Jay Glazer about Burrow is eye-opening and could potentially benefit the Steelers. Glazer recently made a statement indicating that he is keeping a close eye on the trade market for Burrow, a move that could shift the balance of power in the AFC North. While it’s unclear whether the Bengals would part ways with their star quarterback, the very fact that Burrow could be on the trade radar gives Pittsburgh a glimmer of hope. For a team desperate to regain its footing in the league, any opportunity to remove a proven elite quarterback in your division would be a major step forward.

"I want to see what happens with Joe Burrow," Glazer said while speaking during Radio Row on Thursday. "I just... I want to keep my eye on it. I think people are going to go after it. Doesn’t mean [the Bengals] are going to be willing to do it, but I think people are going to go after it."

First things first, it is not exactly a flaming hot take to say teams would be interested in Burrow if he hit the trade market. That is not what Glazer is saying. He is articulating that he has heard enough credible talk that the idea of Burrow being available is real enough that teams around the league are already picking up the phone and asking the Bengals about it.

Obviously, an in-division trade to Pittsburgh seems highly unlikely, but with all sorts of draft capital at their disposal and a new regime under Mike McCarthy, anything is technically possible. 

Steelers Fans Should Be Paying Attention To The AFC North Trade Talk

The main takeaway for Steeler Nation is that even the possibility of a Burrow trade is positive, at least in the short-term. Burrow has struggled with injuries lately, and the Bengals as a team have been severely underwhelming. Their offense remains elite, but their defense has consistently failed to live up to standards, making life extremely difficult for him.

That frustration boiled over toward the end of the 2025 season, when Burrow made it clear in a press conference that he was not enjoying football as much anymore. That fueled all the noise around him, and now one of the NFL’s most respected insiders is saying he is keeping an eye on a possible trade. 

That is telling, and it is exactly why Steelers fans should be paying attention, because even the whisper of Burrow being available shifts the conversation about the AFC North.

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