The Pittsburgh Steelers had a busy Tuesday afternoon. After parting ways with one of the worst free-agent signings in recent memory in Darius Slay, the team turned around and claimed Adam Thielen off waivers.
This move feels like the Spider-Man meme where both characters point at each other.
Like Slay, Thielen was once a top player at his position. Even as they aged, they found ways to stay productive. Similarly, just as Pittsburgh thought it was getting a savvy veteran addition in Slay, the Vikings believed the same when Thielen returned. Both experiments failed, and at this point neither profile as more than depth.
While the move looks fine at a surface level, a deeper look makes it feel harsh. It comes off as another desperate grasp by a Steelers team spinning in circles.
Steelers may have just ruined Adam Thielen’s season
Like Slay in Pittsburgh, the Vikings and Thielen agreed to part ways due to declining playing time. He had been phased out of the offense and has yet to reach even 100 receiving yards this season.
Yes, the Steelers’ receivers haven’t been great, but what exactly does Thielen add? With diminished athleticism, he’s strictly a slot receiver now. In a scheme that frequently uses multi-tight-end sets, how often will he realistically be on the field?
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Even if he plays, his performance this season has been poor. With only a short turnaround to learn the offense, it’s unlikely he provides meaningful production. At this point, he’s trying to hop onto a moving train.
His addition also doesn’t fix the offense’s bigger issues. While the receivers have struggled, there have been flashes from Roman Wilson and occasionally Calvin Austin. The real problem is that Aaron Rodgers is playing scared, low-impact football. A 35-year-old Thielen doesn’t change that.
Worse yet, this move denies a veteran the opportunity to join a contender. If free to choose, Thielen almost certainly signs with a playoff team where he has a legitimate chance to contribute.
Instead, he’ll likely sit on the Steelers bench while the team fights for a 9-8 record.
Best-case scenario, he becomes the No. 2 receiver, meaning valuable snaps go to a short-term rental instead of developing young talent. Worst-case, he faces the same usage problems that drove him out of Minnesota.
Either way, he moves from one non-competitive situation to another. The Steelers would have been better off taking a different approach.