The Pittsburgh Steelers have a secondary question that won’t go away, and it’s tied directly to one of their more useful defensive pieces: Brandin Echols.
With the Steelers trying to chase a Super Bowl and fix an underwhelming passing defense under new head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, the back end of the defense sits near the top of the list of concerns. Echols is part of the answer, but he may also be the player who draws the most interest if Pittsburgh decides to make a move.
Echols arrived in Pittsburgh last season and made it count. He wasn’t flawless, but he brought exactly the kind of flexibility teams want. He moved from the slot to the outside, contributed on special teams and gave the Steelers production on the ball.
That kind of versatility is what makes this decision so tricky. If the Steelers line up their secondary the way it currently looks, Echols would likely be the top backup behind slot corner Jalen Ramsey. But that’s also where the trade conversation starts, because Echols is viewed as the defense’s most valuable trade piece entering the 2026 season.
The idea may not sit well with the fanbase, but the value is real. Before Pittsburgh, Echols had already built a reputation with the New York Jets as a dependable special teams player and coverage corner. As a rookie, he posted two interceptions, nine passes defended and a career-high 63 tackles.
He kept that ball production going last season. Working primarily as a slot corner, he again finished with two interceptions and added six passes defended.
He also flashed some pass-rush utility in a limited sample. Per Pro Football Reference, Echols blitzed six times, picked up one sack and logged two quarterback pressures.
That’s the full package: speed, coverage range, starting ability if needed and special teams value. It’s the sort of profile every NFL team wants, which is exactly why he has trade appeal.
Still, the Steelers’ decision won’t be made in a vacuum. McCarthy and Graham have both emphasized versatility, and Echols fits that idea cleanly. At the same time, the team may believe it can find that same kind of multi-use value elsewhere on the roster.
Rookie Daylen Everette could be one of those options if Graham sees him as ready for that role. D'Shawn Jamison is another possibility if he takes a step forward this offseason and forces his way onto the roster.
So this isn’t just a matter of keeping a good player because he’s good. Pittsburgh has to decide how it wants the secondary built, and whether Echols is too useful to move or too valuable not to shop. For now, he remains the Steelers’ best trade piece.
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