Mike Tomlin ‘Open’ to Trade, Steelers Have ‘Nothing’ to Offer

Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

I will admit it, I chuckled when I read the following tweet from Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Never big players in the “trade market,” Pittsburgh’s front office has actually made a couple of moves since the month of August. During the preseason they sent outside linebacker Adrian Robinson to Philadelphia for running back Felix Jones, and earlier this month they acquired offensive tackle Levi Brown from Arizona.

Those moves however were made more out of desperation than anything else, and it is unlikely that this franchise will be active before today’s trade deadline at 4 P.M. ET.

Of course, the Steelers do not have much to offer any other franchise around the league when one looks at their roster and considers potential trade candidates.

Some might call for Emmanuel Sanders, Ziggy Hood, and Ryan Clark to be traded, but those are next to impossible since all three players will be UFAs once this season ends. Other franchises could simply pass on all three until they hit the open market in six months.

As an aside, the Steelers really blew it when they matched New England’s RFA offer for Sanders this spring. Sanders is unlikely to garner a third-round compensatory pick with his production this fall, and Pittsburgh’s brass could use as many draft picks as possible while they try to rebuild.

LaMarr Woodley is a potential trade candidate to others, but his enormous salary is what will keep him in Pittsburgh. No team in their right mind would want to add a soon-to-be 29 year old outside linebacker with weight and motivation issues, particularly one who is set to earn $8 million in base salary next fall, $8.5 million in 2015, and $9 million in 2016.

With nothing of value to offer, the Steelers are sure to remain quiet until the trade deadline passes later this afternoon no matter how “open” Tomlin is to wheeling and dealing.

Stats & Contract Info. Provided By: ESPN.com, Steelers.com , Spotrac, and Pro Football Reference

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