The shrewdest move for the Steelers in the NFL Draft is also the least tantalizing: trading down.
In recent days, Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller have been making the argument for Pittsburgh to swap the No. 24 overall selection for additional picks — most likely an extra second- and third-round choice. Last year, the Patriots traded out of No. 23 overall in exchange for No. 37 and No. 71. It's feasible the Steelers could follow the same formula.
On the PM Team Thursday, Pro Football Focus' Steve Palazzalo endorsed the idea.
"The trade down is always the best move," he said. "It's very unattractive for fans, because you usually go back and are like, 'There were these five great players that I really loved.' But there's a quote out there from Eric DeCosta of the Ravens that basically summed up my feelings on the draft: 'We don't know anything about these players.' So dropping 13 spots, you're not really risking that big of a quality of player."
There's even more uncertainty surrounding this year's crop of prospects, given the lack of in-person events and limited tape. Players on the board at the end of the first round and beginning of the second round aren't usually all that different. Trading down is worth picking up an extra pick. The NFL Draft is a numbers game.
Look no further than the Patriots, who drafted 39 players from 2009-11. Meanwhile, the Jets took just 13 players in that three-year span. New England was building the nucleus of its second dynasty, while the Jets petered out in a couple of seasons.
As Mueller mentioned, outside of Cameron Jordan and David DeCastro, there is virtually no difference between players taken at No. 24 and No. 73 over the last 10 years.
"The best teams don't necessarily have the highest hit rates," Palazzo said. "They take the most swings."
With holes all over the roster, the Steelers need to bring in as many potential playmakers as possible. And when it comes to the NFL Draft, teams can emphasize both quantity and quality.
The smartest decisions are seldom sexy.
