Steelers Might Swing Big For Blockbuster Trade As Team Eyes Top-10 Move

The Pittsburgh Steelers' extremely busy 2026 offseason has continued this week, as they are at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, IN. They are positioned to select 21st overall in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, PA come April. The organization has a clear need at many positions, including wide receiver, but they could make a bold maneuver to shift their focus elsewhere. General Manager Omar Khan would have to muster up a trade to do so, but they could make this move and land Ohio State University standout safety Caleb Downs in the process.

Downs is projected to go somewhere in the top-10 of the first round of the draft, so Khan and company would definitely have to make some calls to see what it would take to move up to a draft spot in that neighborhood. Downs joins teammates such as wide receiver Carnell Tate, as well as linebackers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese, as highly touted prospects projected to be taken in the top-10. The Buckeyes once again have several elite level NFL prospects in the draft, and this year is no exception.

Downs compiled 45 solo tackles with two forced fumbles and two interceptions in 2025 during his final college football season. His high-water mark in tackles, however, came in his freshman season at Alabama before transferring where Downs recorded 70 solo tackles. He also recorded two interceptions in each of his three seasons during his college career. Now, Downs is set to be a top-10 pick that is high on essentially every single draft board. Sources have recently reported that the Steelers have already had a formal meeting with the star safety.

According to a pre-NFL Combine mock draft by Garrett Podell of CBS Sports, Downs is projected to go exactly 10th overall by Pittsburgh's AFC North rival, the Cincinnati Bengals. That would create quite the buzz if the Bengals are to pair up with the Black and Gold and agree on a trade during the first night of the 2026 NFL Draft. The move would make plenty of sense for the Steelers, as they could then use their reported $45 million in cap space on other positions of need.

While the Steelers are hoping to see DeShon Elliott back on the field and healthy, Downs could be the perfect understudy to Elliott should the Steelers make a bold move like this. The move would also make sense from the standpoint of the Steelers' need at wide receiver. While they have been rumored to be interested in several top wideouts at pick 21, this year brings a fairly deep wide receiver prospect class, so Pittsburgh could wait until round two to work on improving at that position ahead of the 2026 season.

Steelers Need To Improve While Getting Younger

The team is in clear need of improvement heading into 2026 as a whole. They struggled on both offense as well as defense at different points in 2025 and that was a large reason in their inconsistent play. The organization wants that to change as well as live up to a higher standard. They must set the tone for that in 2026 during the first season of Mike McCarthy as head coach. Trading up to acquire an athletic and explosive playmaker on defense in Downs would be a great first step in that direction.

While there is no reported potential price tag on trading up to get a talent like Downs, this is the kind of sneaky move Khan could make that many would not expect.

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