History Will Still Reflect Favorably on Diontae Johnson Trade
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL, like life, is a perpetual rollercoaster of emotions. Some weeks it feels like everything is going wrong, and then there are the weeks where every day brings excitement, intrigue, and happiness. The Steelers are rounding off one of the former. After a promising, albeit short, performance in Detroit, Steeler Nation had reason to hope. The line looked improved, Russ connected with Pickens, and the possibility of Brandon Aiyuk moving to the 412 was still on the table.
Since then, Isaac Seumalu strained his peck, holding him out for at least a month, and Aiyuk officially signed back with the 49ers.
Suddenly, the local media and Steelers faithful are in despair once again. In the instance of Aiyuk, many are directing their ire towards second-year general manager, Omar Khan. This announcement particularly stings since it comes just days after Jahan Dotson was traded to Philly from the Commanders.
Dotson is a former first-round pick who could have bolstered the wide receiver room in Pittsburgh, and the compensation to the Washington Commanders was minimal. Some feel that Khan was too focused on the Aiyuk trade and had his blinders on to other options around the league. Media members are also criticizing the Diontae Johnson trade since his role has not been replaced just a week from Week one of the regular season.
But whether or not Khan and Tomlin can find a suitable WR2 before the season begins, history will favor the Diontae Johnson trade favorably.
Pittsburgh Doesn’t Let Wide Receivers Hang Around
The Steelers have a history of getting out before it’s too late, particularly at the wide receiver position. Recently, they have parted ways with Juju Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool, Antonio Brown, and Diontae Johnso. Claypool was waived by the Buffalo Bills two weeks ago, the Patriots released Juju before re-signing with the Chiefs, and I assume you know AB’s status in the league. I am not happy about the struggles of these men, but it is an endorsement of the Steelers’ ability to identify problems before they get out of control.
Johnson would have been a problem this season. Not because he is a bad person, but because he was not going to have the role he desired. His struggles and hesitation as a blocker would have lowered his stock significantly in the Arthur Smith offense. There were also rumblings of Johnson having a semi-diva mentality, which can damage a young wide receiver room.
The Steelers Opponents Are Offensive Powerhouses
The Steelers have improved their offense but still have the third or fourth-best offense in the AFC North. While a true number two wide receiver would help, it wouldn’t change much. On the other hand, they have one of the top defenses in the league.
Tomlin and Khan opted to bolster their defense at the expense of the wide receiver room. Donte Jackson is going to play a key role in the secondary. While the season will tell the true story of Jackson’s abilities, all signs indicate he is an upgrade from Levi Wallace. With the slate of offenses the Steelers will face, particularly in the second half of the season, they will need corners who can go on an island and lock things down.
Roman Wilson Can Fill The Void
When Roman Wilson went down early in training camp, fans had flashbacks to Calvin Austin III rookie season injury that sidelined him for the year. While the injury will certainly stunt his development, Wilson has time to grow in his role. He is improving steadily on the injury front and will likely have his role expanded week over week. He is also a much more polished and versatile wide receiver than Calvin Austin III was coming out of college. The former Michigan Wolverine was highly touted for his route running and how well it will translate to the NFL. He is physical for his size and has incredibly sure hands. I am confident Wilson will leave his mark on the offense this season, whether its week two or week ten.
Pittsburgh will go through growing pains with many new faces on the offense. Some areas have question marks at the moment. Come the end of the season, it will be undeniable that Khan and Tomlin made the right move with Johnson and in turn built a roster far improved from last year.
Up Next