How realistic is a blockbuster LB trade between AFC North rivals?

With the rumored departure of Cleveland’s Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, would the team trade their star player to Pittsburgh for the right price?

There is no love lost in the bitter rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns. While trades within the same division are rare, these AFC North rivals have made deals before. Notable trades occurred in 1968, 1973, 1984, 1993, and most recently in 2017, when WR Sammie Coates and a 2019 seventh-round pick were sent to Cleveland in exchange for the Browns’ 2018 sixth-round pick.

One recent and exciting revelation swirling around the trade deadline rumor mill is that the Cleveland Browns have been receiving trade calls for their star LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. While the Steelers have other pressing needs on the roster, LB Patrick Queen’s performance has been inconsistent, to say the least.

Owusu-Koramoah is currently ranked 3rd out of 154 eligible linebackers against the run, per PFF. Even if the Browns were to entertain sending their linebacker to the Steel City, how much draft capital would the Steelers send back to their rivals?

The Cleveland Browns’ linebacker would make an already great Steelers’ defense even more spectacular. This likely speaks volumes to how unlikely this trade speculation is; however, unlikely circumstances, such as Cleveland’s urgency to sell at the November 5th trade deadline, could allow certain rarities to take place.

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