Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Steelers’ trade of Diontae Johnson looking foolish
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The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offseason hasn’t gone as well as you think.
Consider the trade of wideout Diontae Johnson to Carolina for cornerback Donte Jackson.
When it was made, I liked it.
Johnson is a knucklehead: Overpaid, quit on plays, bad teammate, middling stats.
Dealing him seemed like a good idea at the time.
But you don’t trade a starting wide receiver unless you have a Plan B.
The Steelers apparently didn’t.
George Pickens, their No. 1 receiver, isn’t proven at that duty and seems like a worse head case than Johnson.
Their No. 2 receiver is Van Halen, or Van Morrison, or Van Wilder, or whoever. He’s not starting caliber.
Their No. 3 receiver is a rookie, or maybe that Kenny the Kangaroo-sized pipsqueak who has 17 catches in two years.
The Steelers should not have traded Johnson if it meant leaving themselves so weak at receiver.
Jackson is a very marginal cornerback. Carolina was probably going to cut him. Jackson could have been had without giving anything in return.
Trading Johnson was stupid. Absolutely 100% idiotic. Johnson wasn’t perfect, but he’s a legit starter.
The NFL is a passing league. The Steelers need better at receiver.
BUT YAY, KHAN ARTIST!
P.S. — Go get Brandon Aiyuk, and all is forgiven.