Chase Claypool trade is gift which keeps on giving for Steelers

Steelers, Joey Porter Jr. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Steelers, Joey Porter Jr. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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The Pittsburgh Steelers have two options at pick No. 32 — take the obvious choice and a legacy selection, or trade back thanks to QB-desperate teams.

With Will Levis and Hendon Hooker on the board to start the second round, quarterback-needy teams are making calls to trade up as Day 2 begins. The Pittsburgh Steelers, with Kenny Pickett and pick No. 32 in tow, are an obvious target for said teams in need of a true signal-caller.

Pittsburgh has this selection thanks to the Chicago Bears, who traded it in exchange for wide receiver Chase Claypool at the deadline.

The Steelers have two choices with No. 32 — either keep it and take a player with a very familiar name and Pittsburgh background, or trade it and rack up more future draft capital. Omar Khan, the floor is yours.

NFL Rumors: Steelers have choices at No. 32

If Pittsburgh keeps the pick, selecting Joey Porter, Jr., the son of former Steelers star Joey Porter, would be a great choice. JPJ played his college football at Penn State, and is a lockdown cornerback who would fit their scheme. Pittsburgh’s secondary is lacking with the loss of several key players, including Cam Sutton.

But that may not be the right decision, as fun as it would be to see Porter Jr. in black and gold.

Pittsburgh traded up for the right to select Broderick Jones of Georgia, a tackle who should be able to start from Day 1 of training camp protecting Kenny Pickett’s blind side. Give Khan credit — he has done everything in his power to give Pickett the tools to win, but those tools can come at an expense.

By trading No. 32, the Steelers could simply move back in the second round and rack up another pick, perhaps sliding back into the fourth round. Pittsburgh dealt a fourth-round pick to trade up for Jones.

The Steelers hold all the cards. It’s almost time to deal.

Next. 2023 NFL Draft Day 2 mock draft after the first round: Who stops the Will Levis slide?. dark