The Pittsburgh Steelers rarely look to make noise during the NFL offseason, but they’ve been very active in 2024. Pittsburgh traded Diontae Johnson for Donte Jackson, signed former rival linebacker Patrick Queen and added both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields to their quarterback room.

If these moves provide a significant boost, the Steelers could go from being a playoff afterthought in 2023 to a legitimate 2024 contender. That doesn’t mean that Pittsburgh won’t look to make another move before Week 1.

With $16.5 million in cap space available, the Steelers can afford to work in the free-agent market. They may prefer, however, to make a trade.

SportsLine’s Jason La Canfora (h/t Chris Ward of Steelers Now) believes a trade for a veteran receiver is “going to happen.”

Sending out draft capital is always an option, but Pittsburgh also has a few players who could be valuable trade chips ahead of Week 1. You’ll find a look at three of them below.

WR Calvin Austin III

If the Steelers do trade for a wide receiver, their trade partner might want a pass-catcher back as part of the deal. If that becomes the case, 2022 fourth-round pick Calvin Austin III might become a potent trade piece.

Austin missed his entire rookie season with a foot injury, and he didn’t play regularly in 2023. However, he did flash his downfield ability on a 72-yard touchdown reception in Week 3 last season.

Other teams could be intrigued by Austin’s untapped potential and blazing speed—he ran a 4.32-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine. While he wouldn’t net much on his own, including him in a trade package with another player and/or draft capital could help get a deal done.

And while moving Austin, in theory, would weaken Pittsburgh’s receiving corps, there’s no guarantee that the Memphis product will play a major role in 2024. The Steelers are looking for a No. 2 receiver opposite George Pickens, and Austin will be competing with the likes of Scotty Miller, Van Jefferson and rookie Roman Wilson just for playing time.

DT Cameron Heyward

Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward has been a mainstay of the Steelers defense for more than a decade. The idea of trading the reigning Walter Peyton NFL Man of the Year may seem laughable, but the NFL is a business. \

The reality is that Heyward is 35 years old and entering the final year of his contract. He is also looking for a new contract and skipped organized team activities in a bid to get one.

“I have always attended these, but at this time, it’s just contract negotiations,” Heyward said on his Not Just Football podcast. “Ya know, I want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, but we’ll see what happens.”

If the Steelers are thinking of moving on from Heyward in 2025, trading him now could be an enticing option. He’s still a terrific player, and given the rising value of defensive tackles, he’d undoubtedly bring a strong return.

Moving Heyward would also generate $16 million in 2024 cap savings. That money could become extremely valuable if Pittsburgh wants to trade another player seeking an extension—like, say, San Francisco 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk.

Pittsburgh is unlikely to actively shop Heyward, but he’d be a massive trade chip i the team is eager to make a blockbuster move.

OT Dan Moore Jr.

The Steelers will see a new-look offensive line this season.

Former starting center Mason Cole was released in a cap-saving move and is expected to be replaced by rookie Zach Frazier. Pittsburgh is looking to move 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones from right to left tackle while starting rookie first-round selection Troy Fautanu in Jones’ old spot.

The shuffling should leave Dan Moore Jr. without a starting role. However, Moore has spent the last three seasons at left tackle for the Steelers and could conceivably keep Fautanu on the bench early in the year.

“[If the Steelers] come out of the training camp and Dan Moore is obviously better than him, like you saw pretty significantly last year with him and Broderick Jones, at least early in the process, I mean why not?” The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly said on 93.7 The Fan’s The Joe Starkey Show,

If Fautanu is ready to roll for Week 1, though, Moore could be viewed as an expendable trade piece. Moore hasn’t been a high-level starter in the NFL, but he has plenty of experience and is only 25 years old. A team without a dependable left tackle could be very interested in adding him ahead of Week 1, and that could work to Pittsburgh’s advantage.

Trading Moore would also save roughly $3.4 million in cap space.