Steelers Win Their Second Super Bowl After An Unusual Trade Proposal
The Pittsburgh Steelers used the NFL draft to bolster their offensive line last season. Bleacher Report’s NFL scouting department says the Steelers should pursue unusual trade options to improve their offensive line in 2024. Bleacher Report suggested Steelers center Ted Karras from the Cincinnati Bengals.
“It’s hard to find a left tackle like Dan Moore Jr. on the trade market. He could be traded, but the task of finding an upgrade over Mason Cole at center isn’t that difficult,” the BR staff wrote. “Ted Karras is a solid veteran center who will improve the offensive line, and the Bengals are down $6.4 million.”
Karras would be an upgrade over Mason Cole, the Steelers’ current starting center in 2023.
But that fact could prevent the Bengals from making such a move, even if it saves cap space. In the NFL, trades within the same league are rare. This is especially true if your opponent’s skills improve significantly.
Prior to the Bengals, Karras played five seasons with the New England Patriots and one season with the Miami Dolphins. With the Patriots, Karras won Super Bowls in 2016-17 and 2018-19.
How will center Ted Karras fit with the Steelers?
If the trade price is reasonable, it would be a significant move for the Steelers to pry Karras away from their division rival. According to Pro Football Focus’ player ratings, Karras ranked as the 11th best center with over 1,000 offensive snaps last season. He earned a PFF grade of 67.4 out of 100. Karras has posted a PFF grade of 65 or higher for seven straight years.
Cole posted a PFF grade below 60 in four of his six NFL seasons. In the 2023 season, he posted a career-low 53.2 batting average.
Out of over 1,000 centers, Cole ranked 18th out of 20 centers. Cole especially struggled in pass protection. Among centers who played last season, he ranked 52 of 56 in pass blocking. Lane protection is Karras’ strength. PFF ranks him 22nd in passing yards among 56 centers playing in 2023. Any upgrade under center will be very important for the Steelers this offseason. But having a good center on the passive defense would be a big help for quarterback Kenny Pickett.
Can the Steelers afford Karras?
If the Bengals are interested in shedding Karras’ salary and sending him to a division rival, a big question remains whether the veteran center would be a good fit for Pittsburgh. Can the Steelers pull it off?
According to Spotrac, the Steelers were $14.2 million over the salary cap as of Jan. 31. They have a clear contender, but they are still expected to limit what the Steelers can do this season.
Karras is entering the final year of a three-year contract with the Bengals. It is expected to reach $7.37 million in 2024.
Bleacher Report explained that the Bengals would save $6.4 million by trading Karras. However, it’s difficult to estimate how much the Steelers would end up paying for the center after the trade based on that assumption.
The Bengals and Steelers will have to work out the exact financial details of the deal. The Steelers could keep Karras under the salary cap if Cincinnati wants to make a bad deal.
However, the Steelers would have to make a very compelling offer to the Bengals to not only trade the veteran player to Pittsburgh, but also make him an affordable option for the Steelers.
