ESPN Identifies Six Steelers as First‑Round Trade Assets

Overview

• ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell published a league‑wide trade‑value review on Friday that listed Keeanu Benton, Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, Derrick Harmon, Nick Herbig and Joey Porter Jr. as players who could each be worth a first‑round pick in a trade.
• Barnwell explicitly excluded T.J. Watt and D.K. Metcalf from first‑round consideration, citing Watt’s recent dip in sack production, his large contract and age, and Metcalf’s poor 2025 season plus the fact he was traded for a second‑round pick last year.
• Local Steelers coverage has parsed which names are realistically tradable, with outlets saying Porter Jr. is the most plausible if he and Pittsburgh fail to agree on an extension and expressing skepticism that Benton would fetch a first‑round pick.
• The report underscores Pittsburgh’s recent draft focus on the line of scrimmage — including 2024 picks Fautanu and Frazier — and notes that Nick Herbig has already received a four‑year extension while the team has shown interest in extending Porter Jr. and Benton.
• There are no confirmed trades or new contracts yet, but the exercise could shape the Steelers’ roster decisions before the season and at the trade deadline by putting a market value on young linemen and forcing faster extension talks.