​We fully expect the Pittsburgh Steelers to deal at least one player before this year’s trade deadline. Pittsburgh boasts several top-tier players who carry large, bloated salaries, and the depth behind them gives the club the leverage to consider moving some pieces. Yet, the players who would draw the highest trade value aren’t necessarily the ones who have the most integral roles on the team. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell surveyed all 32 NFL rosters to determine which players across the league would be worth at least one first-round pick in a trade, noting that several teams have players who could be valued at multiple first-round selections. For the Steelers, Barnwell identified six players who would be worth a first-round pick in a trade.
The six Steelers players highlighted by Barnwell are cornerback Joey Porter Jr., center Zach Frazier, offensive tackle Troy Fautanu, defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, edge defender Nick Herbig, and defensive tackle Keeanu Benton. Looking at this group, three takeaways stand out. First, Porter Jr. stands out as the most plausible trade chip on this list; if the Steelers and Porter Jr. cannot come to an agreement on a contract extension, a deal could be on the table. Second, Benton’s name on the list raises questions about his durability as a top trade asset; Benton hasn’t consistently lived up to elite expectations, and there’s a real possibility he could end up sharing snaps with Yahya Black this season, which would complicate any blockbuster trade scenario. Third, the remaining four players—Porter Jr., Frazier, Fautanu, and Herbig—are cornerstone pieces for the club and would be far less likely to be moved for a single first-round pick, given their roles, potential growth, and importance to the roster’s structure.
Barnwell also notes that star pass-rusher T.J. Watt and wide receiver DK Metcalf aren’t on the list of players deemed trade-worthy for first-round picks. While the Metcalf assessment aligns with the Steelers’ situation, there’s a plausible case to be made that a team with a pressing need for a game-changing edge rusher might offer a first-round pick for Watt, particularly if the Steelers were willing to negotiate a trade that involved absorbing part of Watt’s substantial contract. The dynamic behind Watt’s status suggests that, in the right market conditions and with favorable contract terms, Watt could be moved without completely dismantling Pittsburgh’s defensive identity.
This discussion originated from Steelers Wire, which leveraged ESPN’s framework to identify six Steelers as top trade-value targets for improved search engine optimization and broader readership reach. The broader takeaway is that while there are several players who could theoretically fetch first-round compensation, the Steelers’ core—Porter Jr., Frazier, Fautanu, Herbig, and Benton—are central to the franchise’s long-term plans and on-field success, making any trade scenarios deeply contingent on contract negotiations, team needs, and the willingness to part with assets that anchor the roster’s future.