Steelers Must Make Trade Deadline Addition in Secondary

The NFL trade deadline is tomorrow at 4 p.m., and while some moves have gone through, none have been made by the Steelers. Yet, over the last few seasons, the group has proven to be one of the more active teams, even if they make bargain-bin additions. However, one of the areas where they could add to the team is defensive back. Between injuries and a lack of personnel, the group has fallen short.

There are too many spots here to move and replace. The vast issue remains that the group does not have the athleticism to keep up with more athletic units like the Jaguars. At both safety and cornerback, it’s not an athletic group but one of the more veteran-based, slower groups in the league. To their credit, the Steelers have tried to scheme around it, but it’s tough. It severely limits what they can do.

Cornerback is a story that has painted its verses throughout the year. Levi Wallace was out, and on the outside, the cornerbacks held up fine on Sunday. Patrick Peterson probably played his best game as a member of the Steelers. But the middle got toasted. Minkah Fitzpatrick’s injury is a severe burden for this group. Miles Killebrew got playing time, and that went about as expected.

But even Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee fell flat. Kazee got an interception but likely blew the coverage on the Travis Etienne touchdown. In man coverage, those two players, plus Chandon Sullivan, were toasted in the middle of the field. The Steelers must acquire a safety, cornerback, or both. It has to be the right deal. Pittsburgh needs to make a long-term investment with a move to make it, I think. But it appears there are some candidates for that. If that deal comes along, there is zero reason not to make it. But the secondary will be an issue all season, even if Fitzpatrick’s injury is minor.

But if the team wants to get serious and level this defense up, they must acquire a defensive back. There is no other solution for that. Maybe they swim in the deep waters for a big fish like Justin Simmons. That seems a little rich to me. Perhaps an old friend in Terrell Edmunds could find his way back to the team. If you look at cornerback, the Panthers want to move Donte Jackson. That could be a worthwhile move to check in on at this point.

Pittsburgh does not have to make a move, especially if they feel like this team will not go anywhere. But if they want to win the rest of the year and improve, the group has to add something to this secondary, especially if Fitzpatrick misses any semblance of time. That group will not improve until they get to the offseason and can overhaul it, but a trade could help bolster it enough to get through the season.