Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) celebrate a sack of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning (6) in the fourth quarter of a Week 12 NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, at Paycor Stadium.
During the previous offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers strengthened their offensive line through the NFL draft. In order to strengthen their offensive line in 2024, the Steelers should look into an unconventional trade option,
according to the NFL scouting department as reported by Bleacher Report.
It was suggested by Bleacher Report that the Steelers sign Ted Karras, a center, from the Cincinnati Bengals.
Finding a left tackle in the trade market who could succeed Dan Moore Jr. is challenging, but finding a center to replace Mason Cole isn’t as tough, according to the BR staff. “The Bengals would lose $6.4 million in cap space in exchange for Ted Karras, a reliable veteran center who would improve the offensive line.”
Karras would be a better starting center for the Steelers than Mason Cole, who had a difficult 2023.
Even though it would save them cap room, that fact might discourage the Bengals from taking such a risk. In the NFL, trades that directly improve a rival team are uncommon, particularly when they occur within the same division.
Karras spent one season with the Miami Dolphins and five with the New England Patriots prior to joining the Bengals. Karras won two Super Bowls with the Patriots in 2016–17 and 2018–19.
The Steelers luring Karras away from their division foe would be a pretty big move, assuming the trade price was fair.
Pro Football Focus player grades rank Karras as the 11th-best center among players who played over 1,000 offensive snaps in the previous campaign. His PFF score was 67.4 out of 100.
Karras concluded the season with a PFF grade of 65 or above for the eighth time in a row.
Out of his six NFL seasons, Cole has four PFF grades below 60. In 2023, he received a career-low grade of 53.2.
Cole finished 18th out of 20 centers with more than 1,000 snaps.
Cole had the most difficulty with pass protection. In terms of pass blocking, he was placed 52nd out of 56 centers who participated in the previous season.
