Pittsburgh sent linebacker Steve Conley to Indianapolis on…

The Exchange

Pittsburgh traded linebacker Steve Conley to Indianapolis on August 30, 1998 for the Colts' 1999 fifth-round selection. The pick became No. 136, Jerame Tuman. The exchange gave Indianapolis a veteran for the upcoming season and gave Pittsburgh a future roster-building asset, making the long-term value of the selected player central to the hindsight judgment. Pittsburgh Steelers Return Pittsburgh used the pick on Tuman, a tight end who remained with the Steelers for multiple seasons and filled a useful role. That is a strong outcome for a fifth-round selection acquired in exchange for a player the team was willing to move. The Steelers gained both future control and a player who supplied sustained roster value, which is enough to separate their side from a routine depth transaction. Indianapolis Colts Return Indianapolis received Conley and immediate linebacker depth. The cost was not excessive because a fifth-round pick carries ordinary developmental uncertainty. The Colts' reasoning was sensible if the roster needed an experienced defender right away. The drawback is that the player return did not match the duration Pittsburgh ultimately received from the selection, leaving Indianapolis with the weaker long-term result. Value in Hindsight This is not a major win because the trade involved a fifth-round pick and a non-star veteran. The difference comes from converting a modest asset into several seasons of usefulness. Pittsburgh's result shows the upside of taking future draft value for a player who can be replaced, while Indianapolis accepted the shorter timeline in exchange for immediate help. Final Verdict Pittsburgh earns a C+ and Indianapolis a C. The Steelers turned Conley into the pick that became Tuman and received the more durable football value. The Colts paid a reasonable price and were not badly damaged by the move, but their return was less lasting. That makes Pittsburgh the narrow winner of a minor exchange.