After an exciting victory over the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football, the Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up for Week 16 against the Detroit Lions. Pittsburgh remains in the lead of the AFC North division, but it hasn't been pretty. The club has faced ongoing issues, prompting widespread calls for change.
That pressure has led to multiple roster moves over the past six weeks, and the process may not be finished.
According to insider Jordan Schultz, the New York Jets are granting Allen Lazard his release from the team. He requested it, and he got his wish. Lazard will be linked to the Steelers, as his longtime teammate from the Jets and Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers, is expected to push for his addition. Pittsburgh already added Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling earlier to help the QB.
There is a clear path for Lazard to join the Steelers to help the offense during the final stretch of the season. With that being said, Pittsburgh would be wise to steer away from the experienced playmaker. You can't let Rodgers dictate the type of players you bring into the building. Both Thielen and Valdes-Scantling are here, and it's taken away from opportunities for other receivers.
Pittsburgh Steelers should neglect adding WR Allen Lazard to their roster at this point
Right now, it's ridiculous to count on so many aging receivers to help this team at the end of the campaign. Thielen is very old, and Valdes-Scantling has lost a step. There is no clear solution available to address the Steelers’ long-term issues at wide receiver.
General manager Omar Khan has prioritized short-term solutions for the rest of the way, aiming to address the broader issue in the future.
Lazard would make sense to join the Steelers, but it made more sense before the trade deadline. The Jets demonstrated poor roster management by failing to trade the veteran before the November 4 deadline. Instead, they will lose Lazard for nothing. They could've gained a later round pick for him instead. Bringing Lazard onto the team wouldn't improve their situation.
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Rodgers played a pivotal role in adding Valdes-Scantling to the team, and it made sense on paper. The former speedster is now gaining plenty of snaps on offense, even though the likes of Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson continue to see their roles diminish.
Those two youngsters should be the focal points of fixing the receiver problems, but instead, Pittsburgh has turned towards washed-up players.
Thielen and Valdes-Scantling have been fine, but the loss of playing time to Austin and Wilson is disturbing. Bringing in Lazard or another retread of Rodgers' old friends would only exacerbate the issues. We saw what happened in New York when Rodgers got his way, and the Steelers can't let that happen. This locker room cannot afford to fall apart as they get closer to reaching the playoffs.