Rare trade proposal lands Steelers 2-time Super Bowl champion

Rare trade proposal lands Steelers 2-time Super Bowl champion

Last offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers used the NFL draft to fortify their offensive line. According to the Bleacher Report NFL scouting department, the Steelers should consider an unconventional trade option to upgrade their offensive line in 2024.

Bleacher Report suggested that the Steelers acquire center Ted Karras from the Cincinnati Bengals.

“It’s tough to find a left tackle in the trade market who could replace Dan Moore Jr., but the task of finding an upgrade over Mason Cole at center isn’t as difficult,” the bloggers said. “Ted Karras is a solid veteran center who would upgrade the offensive line, and the Bengals would shed $6.4 million in cap space.”

Karras would be an improvement over the Steelers’ current starting center, Mason Cole, who struggled greatly in 2023.

However, this information may dissuade the Bengals from making such a trade, even if it saves them cap room. Trades within the same division are uncommon in the NFL, especially when they directly benefit a competitor.

Before joining the Bengals, Karras spent five seasons with the New England Patriots and one with the Miami Dolphins. Karras won two Super Bowls with the Patriots: in 2016-17 and 2018-19.

How Center Ted Karras Could Fit With The Steelers

Assuming a reasonable trade price, the Steelers’ acquisition of Karras from their division opponent would be a huge move.

According to Pro Football Focus player grades, Karras was the 11th-best center who played more than 1,000 offensive snaps last season. He earned a PFF grade of 67.4 out of 100.

It was Karras’ seventh consecutive season with a PFF grade of 65 or above.

Cole has earned a PFF grade of less than 60 in four of his six NFL seasons. He finished the 2023 season with a career-low 53.2 grade point average.

Cole finished 18th out of 20 centers with over 1,000 snaps.

Cole notably struggled with pass protection. In pass blocking, he rated 52nd out of 56 centers from last season.

Karras excels at pass protection. PFF ranked him 22nd in pass blocking among the 56 centers who played in 2023.

The Steelers will need to upgrade their center in some way this offseason. However, finding a center who is superior at pass protection would be extremely beneficial to quarterback Kenny Pickett.

Can the Steelers afford Karras?

Assuming the Bengals want to part with Karras’ money and move him to a division foe, one big question remains: whether the veteran center will fit in Pittsburgh.

Can the Steelers afford him?

Spotrac reports that the Steelers are more than  $14.2 million over the salary cap as of January 31. They have some obvious cut candidates, but the cap is still expected to restrict what the Steelers will be able to do this offseason.

Karras will be entering the final year of his 3-year contract with the Bengals. He is set to count as a $7.37 million cap hit for 2024.

As Bleacher Report explained, if the Bengals trade Karras, they will save $6.4 million in cap space. But it’s difficult to estimate in this hypothetical what the center might cost the Steelers after a trade.

The Bengals and Steelers would have to work out the exact financials of the deal.

If Cincinnati wants the move badly enough, the Steelers could fit Karras under their salary cap.

However, the Steelers would have to make an extremely appealing offer for the Bengals to feel obliged to not only move a seasoned player to Pittsburgh, but also make him an affordable choice for the Steelers.

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