Top Steelers Trade Targets Entering 2023 Offseason

The Pittsburgh Steelers should keep a close eye on the NFL teams that are significantly over the salary cap.

The AFC North side could find players available on the trade market from teams, like the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who need to trim down their salaries to become cap compliant.

Pittsburgh should have its sights set on the Jacksonville defense to find some upgrades for the 2023 season.

Devin Bush and Robert Spillane are set to become free agents, and while the Steelers could bring both linebackers back, they could also move on and land players on the trade market and in the draft who can improve their defense.

Offensively, the Steelers should be looking for offensive line help and they may find an upgrade in a player who did not have a great 2022 but could use a change of scenery.

Josh Allen

Jason Hanna/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 21: Josh Allen #41 of the Jacksonville Jaguars warms up prior to the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on January 21, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jason Hanna/Getty Images)

Josh Allen could be on the trade market.

The Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the AFC South side may not be able to afford a new long-term deal.

Jacksonville is $32 million over the salary cap, per Spotrac, and it needs to shed some deals in the offseason. Allen is scheduled to make $10 million in 2023.

Allen is the ideal trade candidate because of his contract situation and the development of 2022 No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker.

Walker produced 10 quarterback hits and 3.5 sacks in his rookie campaign, and his performance got better as the season went on and he adapted to the NFL.

Jacksonville already owes Foyesade Oluokun $14 million next season, and it would be difficult to part with one of the NFL's best tacklers.

That leaves Allen as the best potential trade option, and one the Steelers should take a close look at.

Pittsburgh may lose two inside linebackers in Devin Bush and Robert Spillane in free agency, and while Allen is not a direct replacement on the outside, he would still boost the overall quality of the Steelers defense.

The Steelers need as many dominant edge-rushers as possible to deal with Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson and potentially Lamar Jackson for multiple years to come in the AFC North.

Allen would be a one-year rental to start, but he could be inked to a longer-term deal to partner T.J. Watt in the pass rush. Pittsburgh could go after a young inside linebacker in the draft to fill in any potential gaps in the middle.

Donovan Smith

Michael Owens/Getty Images

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 11: Donovan Smith #76 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lines up during an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi's Stadium on December 11, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Donovan Smith is not the first trade target who comes up because of his propensity for giving up penalties with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The offensive tackle had a career-high 12 penalties called against him in 2022, but that could have been a product of the quarterback he was protecting.

Tom Brady was not mobile in his last season, and Smith may have overcompensated for the lack of movement by holding more than usual. He only had seven penalties called against him in 2021, so that could be the cause for the increase.

Pittsburgh should not be content with its current offensive line setup, and it could call up the Buccaneers to inquire about Smith's availability.

Tampa Bay is $55 million over the salary cap, and Smith is scheduled to make $15.2 million next season.

Smith should be a trade candidate based solely on his contract, and then if you add his performance in, the Bucs could look to get rid of him and find a younger anchor to their offensive line.

The Steelers could take the younger option as well through the draft, and that is probably the cheaper option, but they leave no stone unturned in the quest to protect Kenny Pickett, who was taken down 27 times in 13 starts in his rookie season.

Hunter Renfrow

Jeff Bottari/Getty Images

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 07: Hunter Renfrow #13 of the Las Vegas Raiders carries the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of the game at Allegiant Stadium on January 07, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)

Hunter Renfrow is more of an outside-the-box trade option than other potential targets.

The Las Vegas Raiders might be willing to deal some players to open up salary cap space to bring in a veteran quarterback.

Las Vegas is $17 million under the cap, but if someone like Aaron Rodgers were to come to the franchise, that number drops significantly because of Rodgers' large deal.

That is just a hypothetical. The Raiders could select a quarterback with the No. 7 overall pick, or go in another direction with a veteran quarterback, but they can interest Rodgers with reconnecting with Davante Adams.

Renfrow, who will make $6.5 million in 2023, could be an option for the Steelers to partner with Diontae Johnson and George Pickens.

Pittsburgh should be far from content with its wide receiver room, especially with Johnson coming off a season in which he caught 58.5 percent of his targets.

Pickens could be the No. 1 wideout as soon as 2023, but he needs the proper support to continue his development.

Renfrow lived in the slot during his four years with the Raiders. He caught over 70 percent of his targets in each of the last three seasons. He brought in 80 percent of the balls thrown to him during his 1,038-yard campaign in 2021.

A Pickens-Johnson-Renfrow trio would take some pressure off both current Pittsburgh players and allow Pickett to work with a variety of options in his second season under center.