ESPN says Steelers should trade budding superstar for a player with only two career starts as a fix for the quarterback position
Hard to believe it, but ESPN suggests the Steelers trading one of their best players is the right move to fix the quarterback position.
At some point, the Pittsburgh Steelers have to find the quarterback of the future. Pittsburgh’s inability to find their next franchise signal caller isn’t from a lack of trying, however. The team took Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but Pickett was gone before two calendar years in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers went the free-agent route with Justin Fields, but despite being in his mid-20s and playing the best ball of his career during his six-game stint as a starter, Pittsburgh let him walk last offseason, and that looks smart after his year with the New York Jets. The only avenue the Steelers have yet to explore when it comes to acquiring a young signal caller would be a trade. Well, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell has proposed just that for the Steelers.
ESPN says the Steelers should trade Nick Herbig for Tanner McKee
“If you need a Tanner McKee and you knew someone who obsesses over edge rushing talent, would you not call the Eagles and say, ‘Nick Herbig, Tanner McKee, two guys on rookie deals.’ You get a cost control player for another year who had phenomenal pass rushing numbers and we get our quarterback of the future,” Bill Barnwell said on ESPN’s NFL Daily podcast via YouTube. “Does that not seem like a scratch my back, I scratch yours situation?”
No Bill, it doesn’t. So you mean to tell me that the Steelers should trade their 24-year-old pass rusher, who has seen year-over-year jumps in quarterback hits and sacks, with a career high in 2025 of 7.5, for a quarterback who has a grand total of 2 starts? A quarterback in McKee that is best known for his preseason games? Yeah, try again.
That’s not to say that McKee can’t or won’t be a starting caliber player. Buy why in the world, would a team trade one of their most valuable assests for a quarterback with two career starts, when they have a young, unproven quarterback of their own on the roster via Will Howard, who’s hype is far greater than that of McKee?
I asked Adam Holt of A to Z Sports Philadelphia for his input on the matter.
Why trading for Tanner McKee would make no sense for the Steelers
“This sort of trade would be one the Eagles should be pushing for, but I just don’t see it as realistic. There’s not a true precedent for a deal like this involving a backup QB, and McKee hasn’t proven to be a long-term option when coming in relief. He simply hasn’t had that opportunity.”
“The Eagles would love to receive a player of the caliber of Herbig in return for him, and pass rusher projects to be a need for them this offseason. Jaelan Phillips was acquired at this past year’s trade deadline by Philly, but he’s set to be a free agent.”
“With that in mind, improving the edge presence for their defense should be a priority for GM Howie Roseman. That being said, this sort of trade is one where the Steelers should chuckle and hang up the phone if it’s ever presented to them this offseason.” – Holt
That’s exactly right. Omar Khan would have to put the phone down about as fast as he answered if Roseman even entertained this idea. No matter how bad the Steelers need a QB of the future, it should never come at the cost of a player like Herbig.
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