A Trade-Down Option
April 7th, 2026
Trade down discussion.
Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht seemed to send out the Bat Signal last week at the NFL owners meetings in Arizona.
“I’m interested in trading down; make me an offer.”
So if Licht is not hellbent on drafting Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq at No. 15 overall, which so many schlockers seem to believe, and instead go after Baylor tight end Michael Trigg in the third round, follicly-challenged Billy Barnwell of BSPN has the perfect dance partner for Licht.
That would be Omar Khan, the shot-caller of the Steelers.
Barnwell, strangely, believes the Steelers will be looking to draft Aaron Rodgers’ successor at quarterback. Therefore, the Steelers and Bucs could hook up for a trade where Licht would still have a decent first-round pick and pick up an extra third- and fourth-rounder.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers get: Round 1, 21st pick; Round 3, 76th pick; Round 4, 135th pick.
Steelers get: Round 1, 15th, Round 6, 195th pick.For Jason Licht and the Buccaneers, trading up or down would really be about feeling out the board and whether they can be patient at their preferred positions. Cornerback and edge feel like the biggest needs for Tampa Bay, and there will be different options at different tiers throughout the first round for the Bucs. If they feel like they can trade down and still land somebody such as Mesidor, Parker or Cashius Howell (Texas A&M) at No. 21, moving down and adding two middle-rounds picks wouldn’t be too painful.
The Steelers would be moving up here in an attempt to land Simpson. There’s a decent chance that they could land him at 21, but with the Jets picking at No. 16, general manager Omar Khan would have to be reasonably worried that New York would be willing to take the Alabama quarterback in the middle of the first round as opposed to waiting until the start of Round 2.
The rules roughly go out the window when teams are moving up for quarterbacks, but this wouldn’t even be an exorbitant price, with the Steelers ceding one of their three third-round picks and a fourth-round compensatory selection to jump ahead of the Jets. While there are those in Pittsburgh who are fond of sixth-round pick Will Howard, the Ohio State product hasn’t yet taken a preseason or regular-season snap. Simpson would slot in as the QB2 in 2026 behind a veteran, most likely Aaron Rodgers, before taking over as the long-term option for the Steelers in 2027.
While on face value Joe likes this endeavor, this seems idiotic for the Steelers.
First, in the past decade, here is the gnarly list of quarterbacks who had 15 or fewer starts but were still drafted in the first round. Rarely do quarterbacks with so few starts in college make a dent in the NFL. For every Cam Newton, there are four or five Mitch Trubiskys.
Additionally, why would the Steelers trade up? For Simpson no less? Why not wait until next year when the draft is supposed to be loaded with quarterbacks?
But since former Steelers owner Dan Rooney died and his son Art took over, that franchise has been circling the drain at quarterback. They just may do something stupid like this.
If the Licht and the Bucs did swing this deal, with the 21st pick, that would be the range to draft Ohio State defensive tackle/mauler Kayden McDonald. And with that extra third-round pick, the Bucs ought to be able to land Trigg.
Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald is an absolute load for any OL to deal with
I'm always on the lookout for a 3-down DT that can play next to Chris… unfortunately, McDonald is probably worth a Day 1 pick and shouldn't be there at 40 pic.twitter.com/QOH7dvxnLz
— Ron Kopp Jr (@RonOnChiefs) February 15, 2026
April 7th, 2026 at 7:07 am
That is a wonderful trade down option for all the Bucs fans on this site pining for the Ohio State DT in the first round. His value aligns more with a later 21st to 27th pick than 15th overall pick.
April 7th, 2026 at 7:15 am
I know we need defense but if that TE from Oregon is on the board at 15 I am taking him. That will take some of sting from Evans leaving and give Baker and his new OC (who likes TE’s) a problem for defenses. I also don’t want him to end up in Carolina as they have improved this off-season. We don’t need to make them better. Go defense the rest of the draft and maybe 1 OL.
April 7th, 2026 at 7:44 am
Assume that Bowles will keep 5 men on each of the 5 defensive units as he has in the past – DL and OLB already have 5 locks to make the 53 and LB SF CB have 3 locks each – this assumes that CB Hayes is vulnerable – Licht could use 6 picks for the 6 open spots – this leaves 1 pick for offense – with 2 QB 9 OL 4 TE 4 RB 6 WR there is really only one pick available at TE RB or WR – this assumes that TE Culp OL Klein are vulnerable and that Shepard won’t be brought back – Licht has a predilection to keep his own draftees but he might draft a TE CB or even OL that displaces a draftee – however it doesn’t look like the 53 will look much different than last year but for the replacement of proven vets for older journeymen – the W-L should be about the same too
April 7th, 2026 at 7:56 am
Based on the Bucs many needs on the D side of the ball. this trade back idea with Pittsburgh makes the most sense and is my favorite draft scenario so far.
April 7th, 2026 at 7:59 am
So this would give us:
21st
46th
76th
77th
116th
135th
155th
235th
I’d be all for this. Back-to-back picks in the 3rd and two picks in the 4th just to move back 5 spots in the 1st? Yes please.
April 7th, 2026 at 8:12 am
Nonsense. Several of the proven vets will be returning from long term injuries too.
April 7th, 2026 at 8:14 am
It is conceivable that Licht drafts a player at ANY position – even QB – I still can’t grasp why he would draft a TE after resigning Kieft and Otton though – and is Shepard part of the puzzle still ? will there be 3 or 4 RB retained ? my guess at draft need priority would be LB CB SF OL WR DL RB TE OLB QB
April 7th, 2026 at 8:14 am
Would still probably be able to get Ioane, or even Sadiq….id rather have Trigg though.
April 7th, 2026 at 8:16 am
21st is more reasonable for Jacob Rodriguez
April 7th, 2026 at 8:30 am
Trade down no. Trade up yes.
April 7th, 2026 at 8:44 am
Bald guy, you’re living up to the first part of your name with that suggestion.
April 7th, 2026 at 8:44 am
*bold
April 7th, 2026 at 8:46 am
Trade down. The more lottery picks the better for a defense that has more holes than swiss cheese.
April 7th, 2026 at 8:55 am
this would be great….imo, this is what will happen but it may not be the steelers…
trade down, select OG @21 and then DT-Lee Hunter @46
GO BUCS!!!!
April 7th, 2026 at 8:56 am
Can we stop with the AC/DC loving Jason Licht? How about “draft pick hoarding ” Jason Licht, or something like that.
April 7th, 2026 at 8:56 am
would love this scenario…
select OG @21 & DT @46
GO BUCS!!!!
April 7th, 2026 at 8:56 am
I would take the Jets #33 and their 2027 1st-Round Pick (plus a 2026 4th for a 6th swap or something like that), for our 15th this year. Though, if Jeremiah Love is somehow still there outside of the Top-10 (but he won’t be), I’m moving heaven and earth to GET HIM. My focus is REALITY. Which is next year, building towards the future with fresh new leadership.