Steelers' Possible Free Agent Target Reportedly Agrees To Sign Franchise Tag And Explore Lucrative Trade

The Pittsburgh Steelers were extremely lucky that cornerback Joey Porter Jr. fell into the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The organization has been desperate for a true lockdown corner for a long time and the Penn State product showed flashes of being a franchise guy at the position in his rookie season. It was nearly a miracle that he slipped out of the initial round as an up-and-coming prospect, but holes remain for general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin. The biggest question is if they will make a big move in free agency or the 2024 NFL Draft.

A lot of the talk surrounding the Steelers and potential for a big trade has revolved around the quarterback position. That is still in play given the uncertainty with Kenny Pickett, but Pittsburgh may be inclined to take the traditional route and put Mason Rudolph up against Pickett in a competition come training camp. Where else could a splash be made? Look no further than the team aggressively going after someone who could complement Porter perfectly.

The Kansas City Chiefs are on the brink of being one of the best dynasties of all time. Having a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes never hurts, but it takes everyone to put together a championship-caliber season, let alone several in a short timespan. What stood out most about the 2023 Chiefs was their incredible defense led by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

One of the more important pieces to that unit was cornerback L'Jarius Sneed. The ballhawk has been on the receiving end of 10 interceptions in his four-year career. The prospect of him remaining in Kansas City is on the table, but recent reports claim that he and his camp may be open to signing a franchise tag and then exploring a trade. Porter Jr. and Sneed could make for a perfect duo.

Pittsburgh is light in the cornerback room. Patrick Peterson joined the unit in 2023, (as did Porter), but there is a chance that Peterson is a cap casualty entering his second and final year of the deal he agreed upon with the Steelers. There isn't much depth at the position. The draft will certainly be a tool that is used to bolster the secondary, but Pittsburgh has never been known to welcome a youthful group to the starting unit immediately.

In comes the idea of Sneed as a possible trade target for Khan. It will certainly come with a price tag. After he signs the franchise tag, any team that is interested in him will have to agree to a long-term deal before anything officially gets done. For the Steelers, it might just make sense to give him a lucrative contract and pair him with Porter for at least three seasons.

The issue with this becomes the financial piece. The potential price of Sneed could, and probably will, turn Khan off. The topic of conversation will be surrounding what the organization needs most. If the two-time Super Bowl champion is available, not doing any kind of due diligence on a potential acquisition would be foolish. Overall, though, a combination of Sneed and the emerging Porter Jr. could make for a dominant secondary.

Steelers Need Help In More Ways Than One

Pittsburgh needs help at quarterback, cornerback, offensive/defensive line, wide receiver in addition to many other areas. The idea of spending several assets on a top corner like Sneed may seem absurd, but it's a decision that could solidify the secondary for many years. It might lead to Sneed being signed for several years, but his play-making ability and playoff pedigree might just be a perfect fit.