Pittsburgh Steelers' biggest offseason mistake that could come back to bite them in the 2024 season
The Pittsburgh Steelers have had an elite offseason by all accounts. A rebuilt offense, highly anticipated rookie class, and strong free-agent acquisitions, Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin knocked it out of the park. But there is one glaring need on the team that didn't have to be there; WR. That hole opened up when the team […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers have had an elite offseason by all accounts.
A rebuilt offense, highly anticipated rookie class, and strong free-agent acquisitions, Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin knocked it out of the park.
But there is one glaring need on the team that didn't have to be there; WR.
That hole opened up when the team decided to trade Pro Bowl WR Diontae Johnson, and unless they finally pull the trigger on a big trade, it could come back to bite them:
Steelers could miss Diontae Johnson
Look, there is no doubt that Pittsburgh won't miss the headache that Johnson had become by the end of last season. His effort, communication, and actions both on and off the field were questionable at best sometimes.
But what's unquestioned, was his ability to get open.
One way or the other, they were going to move on from DJ, the incidents with his teammates – Mitch Trubisky at halftime in Week 4 in 2022; the post-game dustup with Minkah Fitzpatrick after the loss to the Browns. Steelers had enough. They just got tired of the headaches. It's like an old coach once told me – when the production outweighs the aggravation, you keep him; when the aggravation outweighs the production, you get rid of them. -Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Ok, so there is no reason to believe that Pittsburgh and Johnson were going to last as a relationship. But Pittsburgh didn't need to sign the divorce papers when they did, and certainly not with the current dynamic of the team.
Johnson, like many other starters on both offense and defense in Pittsburgh, was-is headed into the final year of his contract. Instead of recouping an often-inured CB for a Pro Bowl talent, Pittsburgh could have just let Johnson walk as a free agent after the season.
Instead, now the development of rookie third-rounder Roman Wilson has to be rushed, a trade is needed, and the WR corps is a George Pickens sprained ankle away from being the worst in the league.
So I acknowledge that things weren't always great between Johnson and the team. But with a new QB, OC, and better offensive line, I'm sure some of his frustrations in terms of targets would have ceased.
I guess we'll never know.
