There is a rumor picking up steam that the Steelers might be interested in a draft day trade for Tennessee Titans running back LenDale White. White was a restricted free agent this past offseason and tendered at a second round level. He signed that tender last week and will make $1.809 million in 2010, but is not happy at all. White has no defined role with the Titans right now as Chris Johnson took over his goal-line work down the stretch in 2009. White has been pushing for a trade and after signing his tender is now eligible to be traded.
Speculation has it that the Titans will try to get a 3rd round pick for LenDale, but might settle for a 4th or 5th round pick come Thursday. The Steelers have two 5th round picks that they can trade. Their original 151st pick in the draft and their 155th pick they received from the Jets in the trade of Santonio Holmes. The two other 5th round picks they have are compensatory picks that can not be traded.
The biggest drawback is that White is no stranger to character issues and has had conditioning issues as well. He is however a power runner and could be the perfect fit to spell Rashard Mendenhall and work in short yardage situations. Kevin Colbert was reportedly high on White in 2006, but ended up moving up to draft Holmes instead after White had a poor combine and pro day. White eventually was drafted by the Titans in round 2 that year with the 45th pick of the draft.
With all of the character concerns recently, this move would really go against what the Steelers are trying to do, but they could be on the hook for less than 2 million and dangle a carrot or donut in front of White for a new contract if he stays clean and produces. Seeing LenDale in Black & Gold would really be hard to stomach after what he did to the Terrible Towel late in the 2008 season. Time will tell if this is just a baseless rumor as the draft is almost here.
