Mark Madden's Hot Take: Steelers' trade of Diontae Johnson looking foolish

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offseason hasn’t gone as well as you think.

Consider the trade of wideout Diontae Johnson to Carolina for cornerback Donte Jackson.

When it was made, I liked it.

Johnson is a knucklehead: Overpaid, quit on plays, bad teammate, middling stats.

Dealing him seemed like a good idea at the time.

But you don’t trade a starting wide receiver unless you have a Plan B.

The Steelers apparently didn’t.

George Pickens, their No. 1 receiver, isn’t proven at that duty and seems like a worse head case than Johnson.

Their No. 2 receiver is Van Halen, or Van Morrison, or Van Wilder, or whoever. He’s not starting caliber.

Their No. 3 receiver is a rookie, or maybe that Kenny the Kangaroo-sized pipsqueak who has 17 catches in two years.

The Steelers should not have traded Johnson if it meant leaving themselves so weak at receiver.

Jackson is a very marginal cornerback. Carolina was probably going to cut him. Jackson could have been had without giving anything in return.

Trading Johnson was stupid. Absolutely 100% idiotic. Johnson wasn’t perfect, but he’s a legit starter.

The NFL is a passing league. The Steelers need better at receiver.

BUT YAY, KHAN ARTIST!

P.S. — Go get Brandon Aiyuk, and all is forgiven.