BREAKING: Buccaneers General Manager Will Consider Trade-Up Opportunities For Steelers’ 20th Pick.
Don’t be surprised if Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan receives a call from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 20. In a pre-draft press conference last week, Bucs GM Jason Licht hinted at potential trade-up ambitions, telling reporters that he’ll start thinking about trading up once the Steelers go on the clock.
“I’d say around pick 20, we’ll know whether we want to try to move up or not,” Licht told reporters on the Buccaneers’ website. “I would say right now that I appreciate the idea of how much faith I have in my staff – both the coaching and scouting staff – and how we’ve been working. Those choices feel quite crucial to me right now.”
The Bucs presently have the 26th overall pick. Of course, Licht did not declare he would absolutely trade up at that position. But once the Steelers’ clock starts ticking, Tampa Bay’s general staff will begin to consider who they’re willing to go up and acquire. And if there is, Pittsburgh could have the first chance to move back.
Who could Tampa Bay target? Looking at their “30-visit” tracker, prospects brought in for pre- draft visits, there are a handful of prospects in that 20th pick range. According to Pewter Report, Texas DT Byron Murphy II, Florida State DE Jared Verse, Florida State WR Keon Coleman, and Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry are all names who fit. If there’s someone they want badly enough, or become concerned another team will swoop in and draft them, the Bucs could trade up.
The Bucs’ website notes Licht doesn’t often make big first round trades up in the draft. And history illustrates the Steelers don’t move down in the first round, not having done so since 2001, but Khan might not have the same philosophy as Kevin Colbert
With so many needs and not enough draft picks, the Steelers have reason to consider moving down. If they can pick up another third-round pick while still targeting one of the centers on their radar, such as West Virginia’s Zach Frazier, that would be a win-win situation. They may miss out on a top tackle in the first round, but they may target someone like Notre Dame’s Blake Fisher on Day Two. Khan and Mike Tomlin will attend a pre-draft press conference on Monday, and we should learn about the team’s willingness to trade down, though it will most likely be a broad “all options are on the table” stance.
The Bucs have the ammo to move up if they choose to. They select at No. 26, No. 57, and possess two picks in the third round, Nos. 89 and 92, as well as No. 125 in the fourth round. Ideally for the Steelers, grabbing one of those third round picks would be their return, though Tampa Bay probably would try to only part with their fourth rounder.
No one knows what’ll happen until the moment hits. Licht’s comments confirm that. They’ll have a watchful eye until No. 20 and then take a look at their board and how the first 19 picks played out. But if there’s someone who fell, possible given the depth at positions like receiver, tackle, and the knowledge four quarterbacks will be gone by then, they could get aggressive. And might get a deal done with Pittsburgh.
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