With three top-50 picks in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers front office has plenty of options. They can obviously stay put and bring in three difference makers, but a trade seems possible as well. The team doesn't have a fifth or sixth-round pick, which could be recouped in a possible trade back in the first or second round. If they love a prospect, like possibly offensive tackle Broderick Jones or cornerback Christian Gonzalez, they could trade up as well.
On Tuesday, it was reported that the Steelers have had discussions with the Chicago Bears on the ninth overall pick. Earlier in the offseason, general manager Omar Khan notified fans that he was open to anything, including making trades in the draft. He's been aggressive since taking over for Kevin Colbert last summer, and it's led to positive results in free agency thus far. CBS Sports' Bryan DeArdo presented three possible trade scenarios, including one in which had the black and gold trading away a key player.
"If the Steelers have a player they could possibly trade during the draft, it would be [Kevin] Dotson, a 2020 fourth-round pick with 30 career starts under his belt. The [New York] Jets and [New England] Patriots, who respectively own the 13th and 14th overall picks, could use upgrades on their offensive lines and would benefit by having Dotson on their roster. The Steelers could include Dotson in a trade package that would likely include other draft picks in order for the value to even out."
As DeArdo mentions, Dotson figures to be somewhat expendable at this point in his tenure in Pittsburgh. If he remains on the roster, he won't start, as that job belongs to free agent signing Isaac Seumalo. While Khan may not be able to get too much for Dotson directly, throwing him in a deal like this could make some sense. The left guard still has starting potential in this league, having made 30 starts in his first three NFL seasons.
He was inconsistent with his performances, which mainly had to do with his concerning amount of penalties. The Louisiana of Lafayette product still showed flashes though, and he could elevate his game under the right coaching staff and system. As for the other suggestions, DeArdo identified the Los Angeles Chargers as a possible team that the Steelers could trade back with.
Is Dotson's tenure in Pittsburgh over?
The Chargers have the 21st overall pick and have some pressing needs, most notably the wide receiver position with an aging Keenan Allen.
For the last one, DeArdo suggested the Steelers could look into trading back into the late first round, such as the Seattle Seahawks and their 20th overall pick. While the Steelers have a decent amount of Day Two picks, their lack of Day Three picks makes that possibility unlikely.
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