There are plenty of Melvin Ingram trade rumors in 2021 after the news that he wants out of Pittsburgh due to the lack of playing time. It seems that his tenure with the Steelers will be shorter than the 1-year contract he signed last summer.
Melvin Ingram trade rumors 2021
It’s no secret that Ingram headlines the Steelers trade rumors. After all, he already expressed that he wants out after playing for only 26% of the defensive snaps in Week 6. He didn’t even travel with the team to Cleveland this week which shows that a trade is inevitable.
Melvin Ingram is still one of the best veteran pass rushers in the league. The former three-time Pro Bowler corralled 49 sacks, 360 total tackles, 70 tackles for loss, and 108 quarterback hits in his nine seasons with the Chargers.
Even in Pittsburgh, he shows that he has still got it with his aggressiveness and tenacity to pressure opposing quarterbacks. It’s just a matter of playing time now.
Here are the four best Melvin Ingram trade fits ahead of the trade deadline…
Chiefs
It’s no secret that the Chiefs need help on both sides of the field. If they want to contend again for the Super Bowl, then they need to address the glaring holes in their roster, especially on the defensive end.
Melvin Ingram could provide a boost in the pass rush game that they’re lacking. He may not instantly address their defensive issues but he’s clearly an upgrade over Frank Clark. Ingram is serviceable enough to gain a lot of playing time here.
The only hiccup in this scenario is that the Steelers don’t want to trade him to an AFC team. The Chiefs may want to create a more enticing offer for the Steelers to bite.
Cowboys
Out of all the Melvin Ingram trade rumors out there, this one is the most interesting.
The Cowboys’ defense made headlines after Trevon Diggs‘ interception barrage over the first six games. While the secondary is great, they still need to improve their linebacker depth if they want to contend against the top teams in the league.
Melvin Ingram could give them a replacement for DeMarcus Lawrence who’s currently out with a foot injury. His veteran presence and production are valuable as well for a team like them.
Pairing Ingram with Randy Gregory and breakout rookie Micah Parsons make sense for Dallas. They’ll become even deadlier in the front.
Cardinals
The Cardinals are one of the top NFL teams right now. It’s clear that they have a scorching-hot offense under Kyler Murray. However, they need to bring someone in on the defensive end of the field, especially after JJ Watt’s season-ending injury.
Chandler Jones cannot handle the pass rush alone. Arizona needs another veteran who can replace Watt’s production and leadership in the trenches.
Melvin Ingram sounds like a great fit for the Cards. He may not be as great as Watt but he’s serviceable enough to help them in the pass rush department.
Packers
If this is indeed Aaron Rodgers‘ last dance with the Packers, then they need to go all-in this season. This could be their final chance of winning the Super Bowl with their prized quarterback.
Despite being 7-1 in the NFC North, Green Bay needs some help on the defensive front with Za’Darius Smith still out due to a back injury. It might take some time to get him back on the field.
A veteran pass-rusher like Melvin Ingram would be a great addition to their defensive front. He will help in constantly pressuring opposing quarterbacks alongside Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark.
Whether Smith will return this year or not, finding a replacement for him in the trade deadline makes sense if they want to continue winning down the stretch.