The Pittsburgh Steelers started free agency with a major splash. From the Michael Pittman trade to adding Jamel Dean on a large deal, this team has quietly made some big moves to improve their roster.
However, the move with the biggest ripples may have been signing Rico Dowdle.
While he won’t break the bank or be the top free agent brought in this year, the fallout from this deal could be notable. It could spell doom for Kaleb Johnson.
Given the financials of the deal, it cements Dowdle as the co-starter or, at worst, the top backup. That makes the path to playing time for Johnson that much harder.
The Pittsburgh Steelers signing Rico Dowdle could spell the end for Kaleb Johnson
There were a few brief hours where it felt like Johnson could ascend into the second running back role after a disappointing first season in Pittsburgh. Gainwell signed a large deal with the Buccaneers, so it felt like Johnson was the next man up.
Dowdle completely upends that. Now, Johnson’s best-case scenario is serving in the same role that he did last year, fighting for playing time with just a few touches. That isn’t good enough for a former third-round pick.
With a new coaching staff in place, it felt like this could be a double-edged sword for the young running back. A fresh start was needed after a disaster of a rookie season, but in the same breath, the new staff doesn’t have any commitment to him, and he could quickly be shown the door.
Johnson doesn’t provide much on special teams. We saw what he could do (and couldn’t do) as a returner, and he failed to develop any other role on coverage units. It is hard to keep a third running back who doesn’t add value elsewhere on the team.
If the Steelers do decide to cut bait, they do get the benefit of Johnson only being a sophomore. On his rookie deal with three years left, he should still have some value to other teams in the NFL. He could easily be traded before roster cutdowns this summer.
There seemed to be a small light at the end of the tunnel for Johnson when Gainwell flew south this offseason. With Dowdle in the fold, that tunnel has collapsed. The Steelers seem more likely to cut bait with the former third-round pick than actually use him.