Three bold Pittsburgh Steelers predictions ahead of 2024 NFL Free Agency
It’s finally here. 2024 NFL free agency officially kicks off on Wednesday, March 13th at 4:00 pm ET, but with the legal tampering period starting today at noon ET, (March 11th) if you wait until Wednesday, the party will be over. So ahead of the event-filled week, here are three bold predictions for the Pittsburgh […]
It’s finally here.
2024 NFL free agency officially kicks off on Wednesday, March 13th at 4:00 pm ET, but with the legal tampering period starting today at noon ET, (March 11th) if you wait until Wednesday, the party will be over.
So ahead of the event-filled week, here are three bold predictions for the Pittsburgh Steelers:
Diontae Johnson Gets Traded
What started out as smoke has suddenly become fire, with multiple teams reportedly in play for Johnson’s services. I floated the Cardinals and as an ideal landing spot when the rumors first surfaced, and it appears they have a real interest.
But the move that would really send shockwaves through the NFL, would be allowing the rich to get richer, and sending Johnson to catch passes from Patrick Mahomes.
As one source told Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports Kansas City, K.C “has made inquiries into Johnson's availability." So the only question is whether or not Pittsburgh will receive an offer they deem fair enough to provide an ROI.
That proposition looks grim in light of the latest WR trade, but if teams can’t land the players they want in free agency, and view Johnson as a better prospect than a 3rd or 4th-round pick in this year's draft, he could be on another team very soon.
Mason Rudolph Signs Elsewhere
In light of the Steelers' breaking news late Sunday night (or Monday morning depending on where you live) with the agreement to sign Russell Wilson, it's highly unlikely that Rudolph will return to Pittsburgh in my opinion.
Rudolph is looking for an opportunity to start. With the Wilson news, he's back to where he was last year which is searching for crumbs as the third string. I expect him to have suitors in the free-agent market, with his six-year career in Pittsburgh likely coming to an end.
Steelers Acquire Decorated Safety
The Steelers very likely will never have the opportunity to address the safety position with as many proven options as this year's free-agency group.
With a draft class that lacks elite talent at the position, an acquisition in the market is all but a certainty.
The question is, what will the league’s second-highest spenders in terms of defensive salary decide to do? They can opt to just fill the void opposite of Minkah Fitzpatrick with names like Darnell Savage or Rayshawn Jenkins.
Or, they can fortify the secondary with a big name like Jordan Poyer, C.J. Gardener-Johnson, or Justin Simmons.
I predict they do the latter.
Pittsburgh Steelers may be better off to keep Diontae Johnson following Jerry Jeudy’s trade to Cleveland
See why Pittsburgh’s best bet may be holding onto Johnson.
