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The Pittsburgh Steelers are in desperate need of a tight end. In the team’s Week 3 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, they lost starter Vance McDonald to a shoulder injury. With McDonald sporting a sling on his shoulder Tuesday at the team facility, the organization started making a frenzy of moves on their practice squad.
Usually this time of activity means another deal is upcoming, and the reports are now the team is finalizing a trade with the Seattle Seahawks for tight end Nick Vannett.
This per Adam Schefter of ESPN:
Seahawks are finalizing a trade to send TE Nick Vannett to the Pittsburgh Steelers, per league source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 25, 2019
Vannett is a large target, 6’6” weighing 260 pounds, but not necessarily known for his pass catching ability. The 2016 third round pick has only registered four receptions this year for Seattle, and likely why the team views him as potentially expendable.
If, or when, the trade is finalized Vannett would almost immediately become the team’s top tight end, and would keep the depth chart of Xavier Grimble as TE2, and Zach Gentry as TE3 in tact. By doing this it would likely mean a player would be heading off the active roster, and if McDonald’s shoulder injury is deemed serious enough, he could be headed to the injured reserve list.
This story is just starting, so stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news on this trade as things become finalized.
UPDATE:
The trade between the Steelers and Seahawks seems to be a done deal. This per Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Can confirm the Steelers have made a trade for Nick Vannett, who previously played for the Seahawks.
— Ray Fittipaldo (@rayfitt1) September 25, 2019
Vannett is in the final year of his rookie contract, and will only count $900,220 towards the cap in 2019. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2020. As for his statistics, he is coming off his best year where he caught 29 passes for 279 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2018.
UPDATE:
It is now being reported the Steelers have traded a 2020 5th round pick to Seattle for Vannett.
This per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network:
The #Steelers traded a fifth-round pick in 2020 to the #Seahawks for TE Nick Vannett, source said. Needed help with Vance McDonald banged up and paid the price to get it. Vannett has 48 career catches and 4 TDs.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 25, 2019
Stay tuned to BTSC for all the latest news and notes surrounding the black-and-gold as they prepare for the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football in Week 4.