Many have questioned what the Pittsburgh Steelers have done this offseason. While most of their outcome this year depends on Aaron Rodgers, you can tell they have something in place. The front office wanted to get stronger along the trenches and reform their secondary while they added a new weapon on offense.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns have gotten rave reviews for their draft class, but they could be preparing for another losing season. All of a sudden, this AFC North rival has five quarterbacks on their roster to try and locate a starter for this season. They say if you have options, you have none. Unless Shedeur Sanders or Dillion Gabriel emerge as rookies, it seems the Browns will add another rookie at the top of next year's NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh has tried to move on from toxic personalities in recent years. First, they cut bait with Kenny Pickett after he demanded a trade. He refused to stick with the team after they added Russell Wilson to push for his starting job. He sulked for the remainder of the 2023 campaign when Mason Rudolph started games.
The Browns saw this and were willing to add some toxicity to their offense.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers Diontae Johnson and Kenny Pickett could destroy the Browns
Pickett joins a quarterback group with Sanders, who both appear to have their own levels of toxicity. Cleveland wants to tank this season by adding these personalities, or believes they can turn things around for the Browns. They just signed Diontae Johnson following the NFL Draft. The former member of the Steelers was a star receiver, but last season derailed his career.
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Pittsburgh traded Johnson to the Carolina Panthers last offseason, but that was just the beginning of his tumultuous run. He was traded to the Baltimore Ravens, then waived soon after, claimed by the Houston Texans, and cut by them soon after. He joined the Ravens again but didn't do anything for them.
Johnson was traded from the Steelers because they were concerned about his effect on George Pickens, a known egotistical player. Johnson was a free agent before the Browns signed him, and many thought he would've had a lucrative market before he threw away his career. Cleveland decided adding a player like Johnson would help their team.
No one will deny the abilities Johnson has on the football field. He could be a top receiver for most teams in the NFL based on his production alone. There was a change in the former star receiver during this past campaign that is startling. He quit on two teams last year and got benched. Cleveland saw this and thought he was worth the gamble.
Other free agents were available, but they added another toxic player to their losing franchise.