Steelers called out for making a 'mistake' that could haunt them

The Pittsburgh Steelers did plenty of positive things during the offseason. For one, they secured MVP-winning quarterback Aaron Rodgers for one more season. That was an immediate need and will buffer things over until they figure out a long-term plan for the quarterback. They also signed cornerback Jamel Dean to beef up a position that they were weak on in 2025.

But not everyone is a fan of what the Steelers did during the NFL offseason.

In a feature for ESPN, Seth Walder called out the team for a "mistake" they made. It's a costly one that could come back to bite them.

Steelers made a 'mistake' with trade, NFL analyst says

Walder doesn't like that the Steelers traded for wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. He even flat-out called it a mistake.

"The Pittman trade was a mistake, though. He has $24 million due in 2026, which is more than I think he would receive on the open market," Walder stated. "Why pay Pittman $24 million when Wan'Dale Robinson made $17.5 million per year as a free agent?"

"In essence, the Steelers traded a late-round pick swap for a negative value contract," Walder added.

Those are all good points. It doesn't appear that the Pittman deal was great for Pittsburgh. But, in life, living means making mistakes, and this is a move that probably won't cost the Steelers too much in the long run. Having Rodgers in the fold this year should cancel out a multitude of sins and buy the Steelers some much-needed time.