Trading a 1st-round pick almost unheard of for Steelers

Oct 30, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) runs off the field at half-time against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

If the Pittsburgh Steelers do figure out a way to make a trade for an elite wide receiver, it is likely going to cost them at least one first-round pick in the NFL draft. Wide receivers are a premium position in the NFL right now with those at the top basically able to write their own checks.

Could the cost of the trade be the only thing holding the Steelers back? Going back to 1970, the Steelers have only traded a first-round pick one time.

That was in 2019 when the team traded their first-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft to the Miami Dolphins for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. This was a rare in-season trade.

The Steelers traded away wide receiver Diontae Johnson at the start of free agency leaving George Pickens as the only starting receiver left on the roster. Unless Pittsburgh pulls off a big trade, veteran Van Jefferson might be the best option Pittsburgh has to start on offense.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Trading a 1st-round pick almost unheard of for Steelers