Steelers' Fragile Tackle Plan Sparks Urgent Trade Idea With Jaguars

The Pittsburgh Steelers may not want to admit they need another offensive tackle, but one proposed trade idea shows why the conversation is not going away. Pittsburgh has young options, veteran flexibility, and a clear long-term investment in the position. That still does not mean the Steelers have a clean answer while Broderick Jones works his way back from a neck injury.

Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton recently suggested one trade each NFL team should consider before the 2026 season, and his Steelers idea was direct. He proposed Pittsburgh sending a mid-round 2027 pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for offensive tackle Walker Little.

During the Bleacher Report trade exercise, Moton pointed to Pittsburgh’s uncertainty at left tackle as the reason the move could make sense. The Steelers could move Troy Fautanu from right tackle to the left side, or they could try to push rookie Max Iheanachor into the lineup sooner than planned.

Moton argued that Omar Khan should explore another route.

“General Manager Omar Khan should consider a third option: trading for Little, who lost the Jaguars' starting left tackle position to Cole Van Lanen last season,” Moton wrote.

That is where the idea becomes interesting. Little would not have to arrive as a franchise-saving tackle. He would be a bridge option, and that might be exactly what Pittsburgh needs if the team is not fully comfortable with its current left tackle picture entering camp.

The Steelers are trying to balance two timelines. One is immediate. They have Aaron Rodgers, a veteran quarterback who cannot be treated like a long-term developmental project. If Pittsburgh believes it can win now, protecting Rodgers has to be one of the organization’s highest priorities.

The other timeline is developmental. Iheanachor was drafted to become part of the future, not to sit forever. The Steelers need to find out what they have in him. The problem is that there is a difference between giving a first-round rookie a real chance and forcing him into a role before he is ready just because injuries created pressure.

That is where Little could give Pittsburgh breathing room. He has starting experience, and Moton noted that Little has made 39 career starts across five seasons. That kind of player is not usually available as a long-term answer for a cheap price, but he can make sense as a short-term stabilizer if Jacksonville is willing to move him.

Pittsburgh’s tackle situation already had questions before this idea surfaced. The Steelers have been trying to figure out the best way to protect Rodgers while also developing their young offensive linemen. That bigger issue connects with how the team’s offensive line plan has already been questioned after its 2026 draft approach, especially with Iheanachor needing time to prove he can handle NFL pass rushers.

Little would not erase those questions. He would simply prevent the Steelers from having to answer all of them at once.

There is risk in adding another tackle, too. A mid-round pick is not nothing, especially for a player who may only serve as a temporary fix. The Steelers would have to decide whether Little is clearly better than their internal options. They would also have to weigh whether moving Fautanu around helps the line or creates another adjustment period for a player who may already be settling into one side.

Still, Pittsburgh cannot be casual about tackle depth. If Jones is not ready, Fautanu is forced to switch sides, and Iheanachor struggles early, the Steelers could be putting Rodgers in a bad spot before the season even settles in. That is the kind of issue that can derail an offense quickly.

The proposed trade is also not a panic move. It is the kind of practical, late-summer addition teams make when they understand their roster has a fragile area. Little has experience. The Steelers have uncertainty. That is enough to at least make the phone call.

Steelers Cannot Let Tackle Uncertainty Linger

The Steelers do not need to treat Little like a missing star. They need to view him as insurance. If Jones returns quickly and Iheanachor looks ready, Pittsburgh can move forward without making a deal. If the left tackle picture remains unsettled, waiting too long could become expensive.

Khan has been aggressive when he believes the roster needs help. This would be a different kind of move. It would not dominate headlines, but it could protect the offense from a problem that becomes much louder once real games begin.

The uncomfortable part is simple. If the Steelers fully trusted their current tackle options, a trade idea like this would be easy to dismiss. It is not.

Little may not be the perfect answer, but he represents the kind of contingency plan Pittsburgh should be considering. The Steelers are trying to win with Rodgers, develop Iheanachor, and survive Jones’ injury situation at the same time. That is a lot to manage at one of the most important positions on the field.

A mid-round pick for peace of mind might be worth more than it sounds.

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