Pittsburgh Steelers–Washington Commanders Trade History

Pittsburgh Steelers received Bryant Douglas. Pittsburgh acquired Bryant Douglas from Washington. The available research does not show a major or durable Steelers regular-season outcome from Douglas after the trade. His value should therefore be treated as limited rather than inferred from appearances or roles he may have had with other clubs.

Pittsburgh Steelers received Dick Modzelewski. Pittsburgh received Dick Modzelewski, but his Steelers stay lasted only through the 1955 season before he was traded again. He provided legitimate short-term line value, yet Pittsburgh did not keep the player long enough to match the multi-season return Washington received from the outgoing package.

Pittsburgh Steelers received Jack Scarbath. Pittsburgh acquired Jack Scarbath, but his 1956 Steelers production was limited: 12 completions on 41 attempts for 208 yards, two touchdowns, and five interceptions. That gave Pittsburgh short-term quarterback depth without creating sustained or high-level value. The return was measurable, but it did not develop into a major long-term advantage for the acquiring club.

Washington acquired Don Owens from Pittsburgh for Dale Atkeson in September 1957. Owens immediately became a regular, starting ten games for Washington that season. Atkeson's Pittsburgh opportunity was derailed and did not produce comparable regular-season value. The exchange therefore favors Washington clearly, though the limited scale of the player swap keeps the grade below elite territory.

Pittsburgh acquired Billy Wells from Washington for a 1960 seventh-round pick probably used on Lenard Wilson. The exact downstream pick carries historical uncertainty, but Wells immediately played 11 games with nine starts for the Steelers in 1957. Pittsburgh therefore received meaningful short-term service, while Washington's probable draft return did not produce comparable documented value.

Pittsburgh acquired linebacker Ralph Felton from Washington in 1958, but the Steelers released him before the season was complete. Felton therefore provided only a short-lived return before Washington signed him back. The Steelers did not secure lasting value from the acquisition, while Washington regained Felton and also held the seventh-round pick received in the trade, supporting a D+ grade for Pittsburgh.

Washington acquired defensive back Richie McCabe from Pittsburgh on May 27, 1959 for fullback Billy Hicks. McCabe played 10 regular-season games with four starts for Washington that season and recorded one interception.

Pittsburgh Steelers received Will Renfro and 1961 fifth round pick (#59-Fred Mautino). Pittsburgh received Will Renfro and the 1961 fifth-round choice used on Fred Mautino. Renfro's Steelers stay was brief, and Mautino did not appear in an NFL regular-season game. The package gave Pittsburgh two possible paths to value, but neither developed into a durable return, leaving the Steelers with a limited result from the exchange. That result supports a C- grade for Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pittsburgh Steelers received Ray Lemek from Washington, giving up John Nisby. Pittsburgh received Ray Lemek in a direct veteran-for-veteran exchange. The available record supports a legitimate roster move but not a pronounced long-term advantage, leaving the Steelers at C. That return supports a C grade for Pittsburgh Steelers. The final verdict is Even Trade.

Pittsburgh received what contemporary reporting and transaction ledgers describe as a 1964 sixth-round draft choice. Because the transaction occurred on August 28, after the 1964 NFL draft, the wording is chronologically unusual, and the exact selection or rights mechanism has not been identified. No downstream player outcome can be assigned without inventing evidence that the surviving record does not supply.

Pittsburgh acquired linebacker Rod Breedlove from Washington and received three seasons of useful service. Breedlove appeared in 39 games for the Steelers from 1965 through 1967, giving the defense dependable depth and meaningful playing time. Washington's seventh-round return did not create comparable regular-season value, so Pittsburgh turned a low-cost move into the stronger football outcome and merits a B grade.

Pittsburgh acquired linebacker Steve Jackson from Washington for cash on August 16, 1968. Jackson had played 25 games for Washington in 1966-67 and recorded no regular-season service for Pittsburgh after the move. In hindsight, the grades are D+ for Pittsburgh Steelers and C+ for Washington, producing a Washington Win verdict. The modest scoring reflects the limited scale of the transaction.

Washington purchased defensive back Bob Wade from Pittsburgh on August 28, 1969. Wade appeared in 13 games for Washington that season, while the Steelers received cash rather than a football asset that can be traced forward. The contribution was modest and short-lived, but Washington did receive usable depth for the purchase price, supporting a narrow Redskins win rather than a dramatic result.

Pittsburgh sent quarterback Mike Kruczek to Washington and received two future draft choices: the 1982 seventh-round pick used on Edmund Nelson and the 1983 fifth-round pick used on Gregg Garrity. The delayed compensation eventually gave the Steelers more durable roster value than the player they moved. That two-pick return supports a B- grade for Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Steelers received 1985 draft pick (undisclosed) from Washington Redskins/Commanders, while Washington Redskins/Commanders received Bo Metcalf in the 1983-08-09 deal. Bo Metcalf did not produce on-field value for Washington, while Pittsburgh received a future 1985 draft choice, so hindsight favors the Steelers despite the pick's undisclosed identity. The final grades are B- for Pittsburgh Steelers and D+ for Washington Redskins/Commanders, producing a verdict of Pittsburgh Steelers Win.

Pittsburgh traded cornerback Anthony Washington to Washington on August 17, 1983 for Washington's 1984 fourth-round pick, No. 111 overall. Pittsburgh used that selection on guard Terry Long, who played 105 games and started 89 over eight Steelers seasons. Washington received two full seasons from Anthony Washington, including five starts and five interceptions.

Pittsburgh Steelers received 1985 fifth round pick (#136-Cam Jacobs), while Washington Commanders received Rick Donnalley. Washington acquired offensive lineman Rick Donnalley, who played 28 games with 20 starts for Washington in 1984 and 1985. Pittsburgh received the 1985 fifth-round pick used on linebacker Cam Jacobs, but Jacobs did not provide regular-season service to the Steelers. That outcome supports a C grade for Pittsburgh Steelers, a B for Washington Commanders, and a Washington Commanders Win verdict.

Washington Commanders received Tim Johnson. Washington acquired defensive lineman Tim Johnson. He spent six seasons with the club, started 67 games, and recorded 20.5 sacks, creating a durable defensive return from the transaction. Both clubs received contributors, but Johnson's six seasons and 67 starts produced substantially more value for Washington than Cooper produced for Pittsburgh. That outcome supports an A- grade for Washington Commanders.

Pittsburgh Steelers received 1993 seventh round pick (#185-Jeff Zgonina) from Washington Commanders, sending Huey Richardson the other way. Pittsburgh won this trade decisively in hindsight. That outcome supports a B+ grade for Pittsburgh Steelers, and the overall verdict is Pittsburgh Steelers Win. The grade stays proportional to the size of the exchange and the direct value created for the original club.

Washington traded tackle Shar Pourdanesh to Pittsburgh in August 1999 for a conditional 2000 seventh-round pick that would transfer if he made the Steelers' roster. The condition was satisfied, and the pick became No. 216, Delbert Cowsette. Pittsburgh obtained immediate tackle depth at a low price, while Washington recovered a late selection. The useful short-term fit gives Pittsburgh a slight edge.

Pittsburgh Steelers received Dashaun Phillips in the exchange with Washington. Its C grade reflects the practical value of that return relative to the package surrendered and the hindsight result. The grade remains tied to documented value for the acquiring club, without assigning credit for unresolved or hypothetical downstream consideration.

Pittsburgh acquired cornerback William Jackson III and a conditional 2025 seventh-round choice from Washington while sending back a conditional 2025 sixth-round choice. Jackson never appeared in a game for the Steelers because of a back injury and was released in March 2023. The playing-time conditions were not met, so neither conditional draft choice changed hands. Pittsburgh therefore received essentially no realized on-field value.