The Pittsburgh Steelers have traded center Kendrick Green to the Houston Texans, as per reporting from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

The trade comes as Green’s standing with the Steelers was shaky at best. The former third round pick by Pittsburgh spent the entire 2022 season inactive, after free agent signing Mason Cole arrived and took over the center responsibilities rather serviceably. 

Green was unlikely to make the Steelers’ 53-man roster, but some fans feared that perhaps the Steelers’ stubbornness would lead to Green still being on the team, given his draft status. 

But, the wizard known as Omar Khan, Steelers’ general manager, was able to swing a trade that netted back a 2025 6th round pick for Green, per Ian Rapoport.

Yes, it’s a severe downgrade from the third rounder former GM Kevin Colbert used to select Green, but the 2021 season, Green’s only in the NFL to date, was not good by any means. Many Steelers fans are happy to see any kind of return for him. 

For Green, now going to Houston, it’s a chance to prove himself as a legitimate NFL player. For Houston, the team was able to add some extra offensive line depth at a minimal cost. 

Green’s rookie season, which had him follow up the legendary Maurkice Pouncey after his retirement, was one of many subpar performances by members of the offensive line in 2021. Green routinely allowed pass rushers through way too quickly, and also had far too many gaffes while simply snapping the ball. 

The Steelers, unhappy with how Green was looking at center, brought in Cole to help solidify the position. Cole even outperformed some expectations for him, and now looks to be the permanent fix at the position, forcing Green to take a backseat in Pittsburgh. 

The Steelers tried several things to try and get some value out of Green. Famously, the Steelers tried using him as a fullback in practices. While that experiment heeded some decent results, it was never tried in preseason action. 

Green did see a lot of preseason time, however, in the center role. His struggles continued, even as he was routinely matched up against second string or lower players.

Perhaps in Houston, Green finds a way to turn things around. But Pittsburgh made the best out of what they could do at this point.

Omar Khan gets a draft pick, and a roster spot, in return for a player the Steelers couldn’t keep on their team any longer.

(Featured photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)