The 2016 season ended just short of the Super Bowl for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After suffering a crushing 36-17 defeat in the AFC Championship game, it became apparent that the New England Patriots will continue to be the Steelers biggest obstacle to reaching Super Bowl LII. With an elite offense and an improved defense, one could say the Steelers are just one piece away from a potential championship caliber team. That piece is currently sitting in an unpleasant situation in Seattle, and his name is Richard Sherman.
Why the Pittsburgh Steelers Should Trade For Richard Sherman
Sherman is currently entering the third of four years on a contract extension he signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2014. While his trash talking has often gotten him into tough situations, his play has always backed it up. Sherman is a four time Pro Bowler and regarded across the league as the top cover cornerback in the game. However, recent issues in Seattle have led to Sherman’s name surfacing in trade rumors.
Reports of Sherman still blaming quarterback Russell Wilson and head coach Pete Carroll for their Super Bowl XLIX loss to New England have come out in the recent months. This has sparked rumors that Seattle has been looking to trade Sherman, opening a unique opportunity to the Pittsburgh Steelers. With Ben Roethlisberger’s time running out, key acquisitions and the proof that zone coverage will not prevail against New England, now is the perfect time to pull off a blockbuster trade to make a push for a championship.
Roethlisberger Era Ending
This off-season, Roethlisberger said that he would consider retirement before later committing to play the 2017 season. It is no surprise the 35-year-old quarterback is beginning to see the end of his career. Roethlisberger’s struggles with injury have undoubtedly lowered both his durability and his morale. Father time is also beginning to take its toll, and time is running out for one of the franchise’s all-time great quarterbacks. With Ben’s window for one last championship closing, there is no doubt the Steelers should do anything in their power to win another championship.
Off-season Improvements
Key additions and returns may help the Steelers to better compete with the Patriots in 2017. Offensively, the return of Martavis Bryant will certainly be appreciated. Sammie Coates, although he played most of 2016, was not himself battling finger injuries. Perhaps Coates can have his breakout year next season and add over-the-top speed to the already loaded Pittsburgh offense. Finally, rookie first round pick T.J. Watt may be the biggest weapon added aimed at beating the Patriots. Watt is a bigger, faster, and more agile linebacker than Lawrence Timmons, the usual choice to cover Rob Gronkowski.
Sherman Could Be “The Man”
During last year’s AFC Championship game, it became apparent that a zone defense will not work against the Patriots. However, without Cameron Heyward to apply pressure to Tom Brady, man defense would have been a disaster. This season, Heyward will be healthy. But the Steelers still do not have a man cover corner that can make big plays and shut down a receiver. That is where Richard Sherman comes in.
With Seattle willing to trade the top corner in the game, the time is now to make a move. Seattle’s most notable weakness is their sub-par receiving corps. Pittsburgh has a plethora of receivers to offer up with a combination of draft picks. This would be hard to resist for Seattle. If Pittsburgh wants to finally beat New England and win another Super Bowl, they must go all in and go get Richard Sherman.
