Realistic Draft Trade Possibilities for the Steelers

With the 2015 NFL draft only a few days away, the trade rumors are really heating up for nearly every team—except perhaps the Pittsburgh Steelers.

If there is one thing the Steelers have done, it's stick to a philosophy of being minimalists in draft terms. Though some franchises are notorious for making dramatic moves, Pittsburgh typically plays things close to the vest, rarely mortgaging its future for players or deviating from its plan.

So while fans of most teams are scouring the Internet for trade rumors, Steelers fans must be content with the understanding that if a trade presents itself in the moment—whether it is up or down—the Steelers will entertain offers.

However, if you are looking for a splashy move, you are probably going to be disappointed. 

With that said, let’s break down five potential trade scenarios the Steelers could consider.

Steelers Trade Up to No. 11 with the Vikings for a Linebacker

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It’s no secret that a pass-rushing outside linebacker is near the top of Pittsburgh’s wish list for the draft. Even with the return of the aging James Harrison, this group is grossly underwhelming at this point.

Beyond Harrison, Arthur Moats and Jarvis Jenkins don’t exactly inspire confidence.

Why pick No. 11? Well, it looks as if the top edge guys are going to be in serious demand. That means if Pittsburgh wants to complete a deal, it has to end up ahead of a team like the New Orleans Saints at No. 13—likely also looking at pass-rushing OLBs—by working with a squad that can afford to slide back.

The Minnesota Vikings would also make a sound trade partner because they could slide back and still get either a top wide receiver or cornerback at pick No. 22.

Which linebacker to target? Well, if they only get up to No. 11, it is likely between Nebraska’s Randy Gregory and Missouri’s Shane Ray. If the Steelers have the idea of getting a guy like Clemson’s Vic Beasley or Kentucky’s Bud Dupree, getting ahead of the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8 would be the objective.

Now, there is nothing to suggest that Ray and/or Gregory wouldn’t be on the board at No. 22.

However, similarly to when the Steelers traded up to get safety Troy Polamalu, if there is a player they covet and there is concern he'll be gone by the time they're on the clock, they will go get them.

Steelers Trade Up to No. 7 for Elite Edge

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If we are going to speculate, why not speculate big? Before we assess why this trade would work for the Steelers, we must accept that the premise is far-fetched and a statistical impossibility.

However, if you are among those who believe that this defensive unit is literally one player away from dominating, this might be the move for you. Again, we are talking about adding a pass-rushing outside linebacker to wreak havoc off the edge.

And the truth is there are three players in this draft who are as close to sure things as there have been coming out of college in the past several drafts.

In order for the Steelers to get one of them, making that move to get ahead of the Falcons will be key. Whether Pittsburgh is looking to add Dupree, Beasley or Florida’s Dante Fowler Jr., getting into the top seven is going to be required.

How expensive would a move like that be? Hypothetically speaking, going from the No. 22 to the No. 7 pick would cost Pittsburgh its first-round pick this year and likely its first-rounder next year as well. The exact details would depend on the two parties, but at a minimum, the Steelers would mortgage their 2015 and 2016 first-round picks to get one of those players (likely Dupree).

Steelers Trade Up to No. 17 to Target a Wide Receiver

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This one might seem less plausible from a need perspective, but don’t rule it out.

When it comes to the NFL draft, the Steelers rarely feel the need to bow down to convention and simply follow the draft according to the masses.

Oftentimes, the Steelers will use that first-round pick in a much more out-of-the-box type of choice, opting for a blend of talent and fit over a strict focus on need.

Pittsburgh hasn’t exactly hidden its interest in adding a wide receiver in this draft. According to Frank Cooney of NFLDraftScout.com (h/t CBSSports.com), the Steelers have brought in four of the top wide receivers in this draft for official visits.

Those wide receivers are:

• DeVante Parker, Louisville
• Breshad Perriman, UCF
• Jaelen Strong, Arizona State
• Sammie Coates, Auburn

On the surface, these may seem like wasted slots, but this is such a Steelers move. If you don’t feel like the value is there to make a struggling unit better, use that pick to make a strength even stronger.

The Steelers' receiving corps appears set with Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant, but nothing is certain.

Wheaton’s situation is tenuous as he continues to learn and develop. Adding a top wide receiver might be the motivation Wheaton needs to step up his game. Otherwise, the selected WR could replace him.

The trick to getting to pick No. 17 is to vault teams like the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs, both of whom could be targeting wide receivers in the first round. A small move like this would probably cost Pittsburgh little more than a third-round pick but could reap huge rewards.

Trade Down to No. 27 and Let the Cowboys Draft a Running Back

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Perhaps instead of going up to get a player the Steelers might covet, moving back would be more prudent. The key to making that move back is ensuring that another team covets a player on the board and believing that a trade down will still yield good value.

The 2015 draft class is a perfect group with which to utilize both of these criteria.

The difference in talent between No. 22 and an early second-round pick at positions like outside linebacker, cornerback and safety isn’t going to be significant.

Which position would be the carrot for a trade with the Dallas Cowboys? Running back, of course. I understand there is a lot of smoke right now about which running back will go first and just how early one will come off the board.

If the Cowboys covet either Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon, there could be significant motivation to move ahead of teams like the Arizona Cardinals or Baltimore Ravens.

Obviously, a trade back of only five spots wouldn’t net much in terms of compensation, but that’s not the point.

That pick would represent ammo for later in the draft to go back up and get a player Pittsburgh wants who has slipped. It’s important to understand that sometimes viewing these picks as currency is more important than just selecting players.

Moving Down to No. 32 and Looking at the Defensive Backs

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With all the conversation about the Steelers bringing these top wide receivers in for visits, could it all be a huge bluff? This is another insanely deep wide receiver class and there are gobs of teams itching to add one of these talented pass-catchers.

Looking down the line, if the Steelers wanted to get maximum compensation but stay in the first round, they could go all the way down to No. 32 and the New England Patriots.

New England is still searching for viable weapons in the passing game and might covet one of the guys in that second tier.

Some guys who could be on the board for New England include Oklahoma’s Dorial Green-Beckham, Arizona State’s Jaelen Strong or UCF speedster Breshad Perriman. That’s not to say these guys wouldn’t be nice options for the Steelers, but the promise of sending a first- and fourth-round pick to obtain a first- and third-round pick would be awfully tempting.

Who would the Steelers target at No. 32? The principal options here would be either cornerback or safety. LSU cornerback Jalen Collins and Arizona State safety Damarious Randall would make much more sense and provide much better value at No. 32.