3 trades Cowboys must make to be legit Super Bowl contenders
By Joe Romano
2. Joe Haden for Ty Nsekhe and a fourth-round pick
On paper this looks like a head-scratcher for the Pittsburgh Steelers but it needs some context.
Joe Haden is in the final year of his deal and Pittsburgh looks poised to miss the playoffs with Cincinnati, Baltimore and Cleveland ahead of them in their own division. Getting back any draft capital, and a serviceable tackle for a player likely not to be on the roster next year would be a massive win.
Haden is certainly not the player he was when he was an All Pro for the Cleveland Browns but he has shown that he still can play. The veteran cornerback would be an upgrade over Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis, who’ve both been solid at best this season. Haden, opposite rising star Trevon Diggs, would give Dan Quinn a pair of corners that may enable him to get more exotic up front.
Ty Nsekhe was brought in as an insurance policy against Tyron Smith and La’el Collins. Fortunately for the Cowboys his services have not been needed. Despite Collins missing some time the Cowboys offensive line has managed to be a strength again with Terence Steele handling right tackle duties. Nsekhe has been a starter in the NFL before and would be an upgrade over either side tackle in Pittsburgh for this season while not costing the team anything long-term.
For Pittsburgh, draft capital needs to be the focus for this team. They are an aging team in a division with some of the league’s best young talent. Not to mention two teams that are looking like playoff locks in Baltimore and Cincinnati. Haden may be helping them a bit but would his loss really change the fortunes of this team’s future? Letting him walk in exchange for anything that could help reload this roster around what can presumably be a new starting quarterback next year would be big for Pittsburgh.