How the Steelers can upgrade offensive line through the trade market

The Steelers desperately need offensive line help. It is cutdown day in the NFL, and by 4 p.m. ET, rosters will be down to 53, but many will be far from finalized. The Steelers could try to turn trash into treasure and sign help off the scrap heap, or general manager Omar Khan could turn to the trade market. If Khan opts for the latter, there are candidates he could try to pry away. 

Tier 1 (Would take a first-pound pick and taking on a big contract)

Laremy Tunsil | Texans

Tunsil cost the Texans two first-round picks and a second-rounder in 2019. He is on a big-money deal that only goes up next season. He has struggled run-blocking, posting a low grade (45) on Pro Football Focus. Yet he is still an anchor at left tackle, and he could improve by getting out of Houston. The Steelers would have to part with a first-round pick to acquire the 28-year-old Tunsil, who would become the oldest member of their young O-line. 

Tier 2 (Former first-rounders who would cost a mid-round pick)

Andre Dillard | Eagles

Dillard, a first-round pick of the Eagles in 2019, struggled in his rookie year. Then, after missing all of 2020, he was usurped at left tackle by Jordan Mailata. Dillard made five starts at left tackle last year, allowing one sack and 20 pressures in 337 snaps. He would be a clear upgrade over Dan Moore Jr., and the Steelers would have a chance to evaluate him in the final year of his rookie contract after the Eagles declined his fifth-year option for 2023. 

Isaiah Wynn | Patriots

Wynn is on his fifth-year option, and despite solid play at left tackle in 2021, there are still injury concerns surrounding the 2018 first-rounder. He graded as the 30th-best tackle in the NFL last year, per PFF, when he played 16 games. But he missed all 2018 and parts of 2019 and 2020 with injuries. New England is tight to the salary cap, and Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported Wynn could be a casualty of that. He may be a risk, but keeping Dan Moore Jr. at left tackle is a bigger one. 

Tier 3 (Cheap reclamation projects)

Alex Leatherwood | Raiders

Leatherwood, released by the Raiders on Tuesday, struggled mightily at right tackle and has been moved all over Las Vegas' offensive line. This new regime did not draft him and may want to cut ties with the last failure of the Jon Gruden/Mike Mayock era. Las Vegas drafted him in the first round in 2021.

Teven Jenkins | Bears

The Bears want to move on from Jenkins, a 2021 second-round pick, after a rookie season ruined by a back injury. Jenkins looked like a turnstile at left tackle and posted a 45.7 PFF grade as a rookie in 160 snaps. The Bears are considering moving him to guard or out of Chicago. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network suggests he could be traded.