ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos have traded linebacker Malik Reed to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Broncos will receive the Steelers' 6th round pick in 2023 and the Steelers get Reed and a 7th-round pick from Broncos, a source told 9NEWS.
"I loved Malik, everyone does,'' Broncos general manager George Paton said Tuesday. "Great kid, really good player. We just had a logjam. We have a lot of talented outside backers that can rush. So thought it would be best to trade Malik and trade him somewhere where he would fit in with a really good organization. We wouldn't have just traded him anywhere. He wanted to go to Pittsburgh and we found a home for him and I think it's a win-win for both sides."
Reed, a fourth-year undrafted pass rusher from Nevada, had more starts (34) and sacks (15.0) than either Von Miller and Bradley Chubb the previous three years but he was squeezed out by prized free agent Randy Gregory and youth this year.
Besides Chubb and Gregory, the Broncos have second-year players Baron Browning and Jonathon Cooper and second-round rookie Nik Bonitto at the edge position. Another outside linebacker, Aaron Patrick, is considered a core special teamer.
With the Steelers, Reed will have a near perfect fit as they play a 3-4 system and know how to bring pressure. Reed is expected to quickly become a top rotational outside linebacker for Pittsburgh.
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