The Pittsburgh Steelers made a very low risk move to acquire a much needed veteran presence in the wide receiver room getting former Pro Bowler Allen Robinson from the Los Angeles Rams. While this would seem like the final change to the unit in the offseason with George Pickens and Diontae Johnson locked in as the top two on the depth chart, with Robinson and Calvin Austin III splitting the slot receiver, some are wondering if this opens up the team to make another move.
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Steelers wide receivers Diontae Johnson and George Pickens will be tasked to produce as the big dogs in the offense next year.
What if Allen Robinson makes the Steelers open to trading Diontae Johnson? Would you deal him for a 2nd round pick?
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) April 18, 2023
While co-hosts Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller were not big fans of getting Robinson two years removed from his last 1,000-yard season and coming off a stress fracture in his foot at the age of 29, they agreed that with the final details of the trade, it's a low risk option. If he plays to his best his ability, Muller thinks could have a decent third receiver type production.
The former Penn State receiver drew comparisons from Fillipponi to Jerricho Cotchery who had some productive seasons with the New York Jets, before signing with the Steelers and having two solid seasons in limited usage before a 600-yard season in 2013.
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Jerricho Cotchery had a big year for the Steelers in 2013.
After some musing about receivers available in this draft, Fillipponi said if there's more coming from general manager Omar Khan down the line, his hat is off to him.
"Right now, I'm like I don't think this deal makes the Steelers any better and I don't think they're any worse," he said. "But if this is a way to get a big trade package back for Diontae Johnson, if it's a legitimate pick and this is their insurance policy then I'd love that."
This year's draft has a few receivers in it that are certainly intriguing prospects like Kenny Pickett's University of Pittsburgh teammate, Jordan Addison and Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Both of them are probably going in the first round and what kind of package would teams want with Johnson to get a first rounder? Khan can't seriously want to trade him after signing him to an extension last summer, can he?
In Defense Of Keeping The Steelers Pro Bowl Receiver
JORDAN SCHOFIELD / STEELERNATION.COM (TWITTER: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers' Diontae Johnson will be expected to bounce back to his previous levels after a full offseason working with Kenny Pickett.
Johnson had an underwhelming year in 2022. Despite finishing in the top 10 in the league in targets, he only found the endzone once for a two-point conversion. He reportedly got into it with then starting, but soon to benched quarterback, Mitch Trubisky. He and Pickett worked on their relationship during the season and Johnson was with Pickett and other receivers training in Miami at the end of March. While Matt Canada's play-calling has come under heavy fire, it was in an offense led by him in 2021 that saw him break out for his first 1,000-yard season.
"I don't think there are guys (receivers in this draft) that will be more productive because I think he's going to have another thousand-yard season," Mueller said in defense of Johnson.
Johnson is a proven commodity at the NFL level. While he faced some tough criticism last season for a challenging year, he's a surer bet than any rookie the team could realistically get in a trade or draft pick.
So, Steeler Nation, do you think that acquiring Robinson opens up a Johnson trade? Are there receivers in this draft you would rather have than Johnson? Comment below!
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