Tag: Surtain

6 players the Steelers could target in a trade before the deadline

If the Steelers are buying at the trade deadline, here are several interesting options.

With less than two weeks to the NFL trade deadline, rumors are starting to heat up about which players could be available as teams look to dump salary while others hope to add pieces for a playoff push.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are somewhere in between. Sitting at 3-2, the team is definitely in the mix to make the playoffs. In 2019, when all seemed lost after Ben Roethlisberger went down with a season-ending injury, Pittsburgh worked a huge trade for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick that worked out great.

Despite the struggles this team has had through five games, I firmly believe head coach Mike Tomlin and the front office feel like this is a competitive squad capable of winning the AFC North. This is why we believe the team will be buyers when the time comes. Especially if the team can find a way to beat the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday and improve to 4-2.

If the Steelers should go out and look to add a player or two, here are six potential options with Denver Broncos star cornerback Patrick Surtain II being the Fitzpatrick of this group.

Minkah Fitzpatrick voted the No. 1 Safety in the NFL

Minkah Fitzpatrick viewed as the clear best safety in the NFL according to league personnel

This past week, ESPN conducted a number of surveys with NFL executives, coaches and scouts to gather the league’s opinion on various topics. One of the opinions they love to grasp is how people in the league view certain players and position groups. Yesterday, the survey discussed the top corners in the NFL, including three former Alabama players and Patrick Surtain II, who was ranked No. 1 on the list.

Recently, ESPN discussed the safety position (subscription required) and who is at the top of the league right now. The Crimson Tide add another to their claim as Defensive Back University, or “DBU,” Pittsburgh Steelers DB, Minkah Fitzpatrick, was ranked as the No. 1 safety in the league. Xavier McKinney qualified on the list as well as an honorable mention, but it is impressive when you think about all of the top corner and safety talent Alabama has sent to the NFL.

One executive in the NFL said of the Giants‘ McKinney, “Young, consistent big starting-level safety. One of the leaders on the Giants defense, versatile – not a lot of flash or high-ed athletic ability compared to some of the other top safeties.”

The reviews for Fitzpatrick were glowing coming off of a 2022 First-team All-Pro performance. Fitzpatrick has arguably the best ball-hawking skills in the NFL and he displayed that last season with 11 pass breakups and six interceptions.

An NFL personnel director said of Fitzpatrick, “Best in the game, and it’s not close. You have to keep him moving because if he’s stationary, coordinators can plan for him, but every single play, there’s that feeling of, where is he going to be? Post, slot, nickel, box. He’s capable, willing and able to handle all of that. He’s brilliant, works, studies, loves the game.”

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Kiper, McShay Top-10 2021 mock: Debate Cowboys QB, LB, CB, edge needs

The Dallas Cowboys’ 34-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday night dropped their record to 3-9. Depending on which method of strength of schedule one uses, that puts them at either the No. 4 or No. 5 pick in the 2021 NFL draft based on …

The Dallas Cowboys’ 34-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday night dropped their record to 3-9. Depending on which method of strength of schedule one uses, that puts them at either the No. 4 or No. 5 pick in the 2021 NFL draft based on tiebreaking procedures with the equally bad Los Angeles Chargers.

Neither order matters here, as ESPN plugs their product and uses their Power Football Index to determine the pecking order for their draft gurus to churn out the first mock draft of the season for their outlet. Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay spent time debating the needs of each team and who is available for them when they are on the not-quite-accurate clock. For the Dallas Cowboys, the debate at pick No. 5 came down to four positions: quarterback, linebacker, corner and edge rusher.