Steelers Had Clear Ulterior Motive During 2024 Offseason: "Weed Out The Problem-Guys"

The Pittsburgh Steelers moved in an uncharacteristic way during the 2024 offseason. The organization admitted its mistake in drafting Kenny Pickett and traded him after just two seasons. They also traded away their best pure wide receiver in Diontae Johnson. Both players had a lot of drama surrounding them during the 2023 season, which definitely served as some kind of distraction to the rest of the team. With both players moving on, it's clear General Manager Omar Khan made a concerted effort to "cleanse" the locker room. 

Pickett had a solid record with Pittsburgh when he started and finished games, but he wasn't playing at the spectacular level a first round pick is expected to. His inconsistencies and injuries piled up for Pittsburgh, and the team decided to get rid of him after signing Russell Wilson. Pickett's time in Pittsburgh ended on the wrong foot, with him refusing to be the backup. Johnson had always been a good receiver for the Steelers, but he often had his character and effort questioned. 

Steelers beat writer, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, made an appearance on 93.7 The Fan where he spoke about Pittsburgh's moves at receiver and the motive behind them.

"All those other guys have history with connections to the Steelers offense. Quez Watkins was an Andy Weidl draft pick, Van Jefferson and Scotty Miller were with Arthur Smith. So they know what those guys are all about. I think they tried to weed out the problem-guys with Diontae Johnson and now they're bringing in more team-like guys, high character guys."

Pittsburgh brought in a handful of receivers recently. Quez Watkins, Van Jefferson, and Scotty Miller are all guys who have never been the focal point of a team's passing game. They are used to being an after thought at receiver, so there likely won't be any issues with them if they aren't seeing a lot of targets. Another addition at the position was Roman Wilson, who comes from a run-heavy offense at Michigan. He is used to putting his head down and blocking, which is what he will need to do in Pittsburgh. 

Johnson was productive in Pittsburgh, with his best year coming in 2021 when he caught 8 touchdowns and recorded over 1,100 yards. However, he seemed to get frustrated easily in 2023, often to the detriment of the team. A few instances stand out, including Johnson's actions after a Jaylen Warren fumble during the 2023 season. Johnson clearly made no attempt to recover the ball as it bounced right in front of him. He then had no desire to help tackle the defender that picked it up. 

There were other plays where Johnson seemed to make no effort. He even got into a fight with Minkah Fitzpatrick after Pittsburgh lost a game to the Cleveland Browns in 2023. Johnson was Pittsburgh's best route runner, but ultimately, the cons outweighed the pros. His consistent issues proved too much for Pittsburgh, so he got sent to the Carolina Panthers. 

Steelers Are Relying Heavily On George Pickens

After the 2023 season ended, it was clear Pittsburgh needed to make a move to acquire a receiver. They needed a reliable third option to go behind Johnson and George Pickens. Obviously, the need at receiver grew even larger after Johnson was dealt. Pickens has been impressive throughout his first two seasons in the league, but his route running is nowhere near the level of Johnson's.

Pickens is a receiver that uses his athleticism and physical traits to win contested catches, which make him a great downfield threat. Now that the Steelers don't have their elite route runner, a lot of the defensive attention will be placed on Pickens. Pittsburgh will either need Pickens to show major improvement, or have another player like Jefferson or Wilson step up in a big way.

What do you think about the Steelers getting rid of their locker room problems during the 2024 offseason? Comment below!

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