Steelers' Potential Trade, Cut Candidates After 2023 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers added depth across their offensive depth chart in the 2023 NFL draft and the weeks before the event.

Pittsburgh now has Allen Robinson II to partner with Diontae Johnson and George Pickens at wide receiver, another young tight end in Darnell Washington and more protection for Kenny Pickett with Broderick Jones at left tackle.

Jones will compete for the starting left tackle spot, while Robinson and Washington can take away snaps from players fighting to keep their places on the 53-man roster.

The most likely cut and trade candidates come from the offensive positions, because Mike Tomlin and his staff can't keep everyone after bringing in new impact players.

That could make the competitions for the No. 4 and 5 wide receiver, as well as the No. 3 tight end, two of the most important positional battles when training camp arrives.

Miles Boykin

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PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 20: Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Miles Boykin (13) looks on during the national football league game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 20, 2022 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Miles Boykin seems like he has an uphill climb to make the Steelers' Week 1 roster.

Johnson, Pickens and Robinson are already slotted in as the top three guys, and Boykin could lose out to Calvin Austin III and Gunner Olszewski.

Austin is a second-year player who missed all of his rookie season with an injury. The Pittsburgh staff may be more willing to give him a chance to impress over Boykin, a veteran wideout with injury issues of his own.

Olszewski carries value on special teams as the primary kick and punt returner. That could be his ticket to the 53-man roster.

Boykin is at a disadvantage before he even takes a training camp snap, so that makes him an easy target to cut.

Boykin's trade market is non-existent, because he has three catches between the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens over the past two seasons.

The 26-year-old's best option may be to get cut early in training camp so he can attempt to impress another team and make its final roster.

Connor Heyward

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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 08: Connor Heyward #83 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates a first down during the fourth quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium on January 08, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Connor Heyward may not make it to his second season in black and gold.

The 2022 sixth-round pick's roster status became more complicated with Washington's selection in the third round of the 2023 draft.

Washington is a massive target who could be utilized right away in red-zone situations over Zach Gentry.

Gentry and Heyward serve the same purpose on the roster right now as blocking tight ends behind Washington and Pat Freiermuth.

The Steelers can't afford to keep two of the same type of player, especially at tight end, where three players on the active depth chart is normal for most teams.

Gentry caught seven more passes than Heyward in 2022 on eight more targets. He could be the preferred No. 2 tight end behind Freiermuth while Washington adjusts to NFL defenses.

That would leave Heyward on the outside looking in, and like Boykin, he may be better off with an early cut in training camp to get a significant look elsewhere for playing time.

Dan Moore Jr.

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 28: Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. (65) during an NFL game between the Pittsburg Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts on November 28, 2022 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Steelers could be in an awkward spot with Dan Moore Jr.

The 24-year-old offensive tackle will likely be relegated to a backup role with Jones entering the roster as a first-round pick.

In that situation, Pittsburgh would surely love to keep Moore as a reserve offensive lineman in case any injuries occur during the 2023 campaign.

Moore may want to go after a starting job somewhere else. He can't get that at tackle in Pittsburgh with Jones on the left and Chukwuma Okorafor on the right.

Moore could fetch a late-round draft pick on the trade market, if the Steelers pursue that route. A potential Moore trade would be player-driven more than anything if he wants to hunt for more consistent playing time.

The Steelers would love to have a starting-caliber left tackle available in case Jones goes down with an injury or goes through a rough patch in his rookie season.