Steelers Could Instantly Feel Regret With Recent Offseason Move

The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the team's season opener against the Atlanta Falcons that is scheduled for Sunday, and that process began a couple of weeks ago when the franchise announced its final 53-man roster. That is a tough time of year for front offices around the NFL as difficult decisions have to be made, and fans are often surprised by a move or two. One of the surprising moves in Pittsburgh was inside linebacker Elandon Roberts being released. Many expected him to be brought back, but that hasn't happened yet. The organization would have had to make more hard decisions if it weren't for General Manager Omar Khan being able to pull off some trades.

Khan was able to part ways with two players on rookie deals whose futures in Pittsburgh were up in the air. One of those trades involved tackle Broderick Jones as he was sent to the Dallas Cowboys, and the other involved second-year running back Kaleb Johnson as he was traded to the Green Bay Packers.

These were smart trades from the front office as neither player had much of a future in Pittsburgh, and neither player was going to help the Steelers win games in 2026. It is best to cut losses and bring in some draft capital rather than just releasing players when roster cutdowns come around. Fans will be a little shaky with these trades due to the failure of the Kevin Dotson trade a few seasons ago, but that probably won't happen with Jones or Johnson. Johnson's new head coach Matt LaFleur spoke about his potential involvement, and it seems like he could see the field right away. He was asked if Johnson would help in Week 1.

"Yes," LaFleur said. "He's done a nice job. It does help there was some carryover not only from when he was at Iowa with Tim Lester, but also having Arthur Smith in Pittsburgh."

The running back position is interesting in Green Bay. Josh Jacobs is currently entangled in an off-field issue and is on the Commissioner's Exempt List. MarShawn Lloyd is listed as the starter while Chris Brooks is his backup. Johnson is the third back on the depth chart, but he could get on the field in the Week 1 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.

Neither of the backs ahead of Johnson on the depth chart is necessarily proven, which could open the door for him to make an immediate impact. LaFleur believes the young running back is already comfortable in the system, which should give the coaching staff the necessary confidence to put him on the field. There is a chance that Jacobs could miss considerable time via a suspension, or he could even be released if his actions are deemed to misrepresent the organization. This could lead to a potentially big season for Johnson.

Steelers' Trade Could Make The Franchise Look Bad

Pittsburgh clearly did not plan on much of a future for Johnson. He was barely worked into the rotation during the preseason and in training camp practices, and his rookie season was a complete disappointment. He was in the dog house with the previous coaching staff and many fans believed this would be a fresh start for him, but he was not a scheme fit with the new offense being run in Pittsburgh. A trade was necessary, and he went to a great situation where he might be able to see the field quite a bit in 2026. If he produces decently throughout the year, things may not look good when looking back on the trade between the two franchises.

What do you expect from Johnson in Green Bay? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!