Steelers Looking to Acquire Tackle Levi Brown from the Cardinals

Steelers looking to fix line, near deal with Cards for Levi Brown

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals are trying to finalize a trade that would send tackle Levi Brown to Pittsburgh, according to league sources.

Considered one of the best offensive tackles available in the 2007 NFL Draft, Brown drew comparisons to Marcus McNeill. He was selected by the Arizona Cardinals as the fifth pick in the first round. He was the sixth offensive lineman in Penn State history to be selected in a first round of an NFL Draft, and the first since Jeff Hartings in 1996.

Levi Brown to the SteelersThe Steelers, who have been rotating tackles and struggling on the offensive line, are close to landing the former first-round pick from Arizona, sources said. Brown has struggled since re-signing with the Cardinals but has a huge frame. The Steelers, who are on their bye week, would have time to work him in before pushing him into action.

Steelers draft pick Mike Adams has lost his grip on a starting job and Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey is out for the year. Ben Roethlisberger has been under constant duress, as the pass and run games are struggling for 0-4 Steelers.

If I was a betting man I would head over to SportsBettingOnline.ag and put money down that Brown is an instant starter over Mike Adams once he is acclimated to the Steelers offense.

Their attempts rally Sunday were thwarted by the Vikings pass rush late in the game and, much like their division rival Ravens, offensive line issues were undermining their ability to run their offense (Baltimore’s deal with Jacksonville for tackle Eugene Monroe will be finalized today, sources said).

The Cardinals are coached by former Steelers coordinator Bruce Arians, so there is plenty of familiarity there between offensive philosophies and the Cardinals are trying to rework their offensive line and get younger there as well, with injuries a big issue for them thus far, too.

The Steelers will take on what’s left of the five-year, $30 million contract Brown — a former first-round pick — signed in 2012.

This can be spun as Pittsburgh acquiring a veteran, but it’s telling that Arizona was willing to shop its starting left tackle in October. We’d be surprised if the Steelers give back anything higher than low draft pick in exchange for this patch of a player

 

1 comment on “Steelers Looking to Acquire Tackle Levi Brown from the Cardinals

  1. If they’re smart they will put Adams at Right Tackle where he’d get help on the perimeter from Heath Miller. His problem has been getting beat on the edge by speed rushers. Also he gets no help from Ramon Foster who takes care of his assignment but nothing else. This would get the horrible Marcus Gilbert off the field, as well.