5 trades John Lynch, 49ers should pursue at 2021 trade deadline
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: 49ers trade safety Jaquiski Tartt to Steelers
There’s very little reason to assume the Niners retain strong safety Jaquiski Tartt into 2022 after he re-signed a team-friendly one-year, $1.13 million contract last offseason. Especially considering Tartt’s injury history and the likelihood rookie defensive back Talanoa Hufanga is being groomed to serve as a long-term replacement.
Tartt, who’s again injured with a bone bruise to his knee, is nevertheless a quality defensive back when healthy, and he’s expected to miss only a few weeks’ time.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, meanwhile, need all the defensive help they can get to help overcome shortcomings at quarterback with Ben Roethlisberger and a shoddy offensive line. And while additions there may be wise, it almost serves a better purpose for Pittsburgh to reinforce its stronger side of the ball.
Free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is playing exceptional football, as per usual, but strong safety Terrell Edmunds has been a liability with a Pro Football Focus grade of 58.0. A free agent in 2022, the Steelers have no long-term commitment to Edmunds and could easily seek out an upgrade to help keep things afloat within a hotly contested AFC North where, at 3-3, Pittsburgh is still just two games behind the division-leading Baltimore Ravens.
Tartt won’t cost much of anything post-trade, and the Steelers would get better, defensively, now without having to offer up much in return.