You know things must be going pretty weird in the world when the Steelers and Ravens make a trade. But that's exactly what happened Friday afternoon as the Steelers made a deal with their heated rival, sending a 2021 fifth-round draft pick to Baltimore to acquire veteran defensive lineman Chris Wormley and a 2021 seventh-round pick.
The move fills an immediate need for the Steelers, who had a void at nose tackle after Javon Hargrave was lost earlier in the week in free agency to the Eagles. Hargrave got a three-year, $39-million deal to move across the state.
In Wormley, the cost for the Steelers is much cheaper. A third-round draft pick (74th overall) in 2017, Wormley, 27, will count $2.13 million against the Steelers' salary cap after the Ravens tendered him as a restricted free agent.
The former Michigan star has appeared in all 32 games for the Ravens the past two seasons, making 13 starts. He had 33 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 2019. He was a third-round draft pick of the Ravens but became expendable with the team's acquisitions of Michael Brockers in free agency and Calais Campbell via trade earlier this week.
At 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, Wormley is built differently than Hargrave, who at 6-foot-2, was a more compact nose tackle. But Wormley also has played defensive end for the Ravens, giving the Steelers additional flexibility on their defensive line. His addition could mean the Steelers intend on using Tyson Alualu more at nose tackle in 2020.
The move was the latest in a flurry of activity for the Steelers. Late Thursday night, interior offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski announced on social media he was joining the team. Then, Friday morning, the Steelers re-signed safety Jordan Dangerfield. Finally, early Friday afternoon, the team reached an agreement with tight end Eric Ebron on a two-year contract.
