Steelers Great Ben Roethlisberger Unnecessarily Blasted By Texans GM After Kendrick Green Trade

Just ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ official 53-man roster announcement, General Manager Omar Khan had to make some moves. That included two trades, both of which came from the Steelers offensive line. One of those was 2021 third-round draft pick Kendrick Green, who became an afterthought in Pittsburgh.

Somehow, Khan was able to garner legitimate draft compensation for the former third-rounder. The Houston Texans were the team that was desperate enough to give up a draft pick for Green, as they sent the Steelers a sixth-round pick in 2025. Upon acquiring him, Texans General Manager Nick Caserio decided to take a subtle shot at a former Steelers player via Shaun Bijani of 610 KILT-AM.

"He actually played more competitive than people think. I know there’s been some commentary made about him — specifically from the guy who played quarterback there. But, in the end, we can’t really worry about what happened somewhere else. [We're] trying to focus on where we are now and what you think he can bring to the table. He has some inside flexibility, center-guard and guard-center," Caserio said to media.

Be careful what you wish for, Nick. After starting 15 games his rookie season, Green didn’t touch the field once in 2022. That should tell you something, as the Steelers moved him from center to left guard. Fast forward to this summer, and the team tried him at fullback. While the logjam along the interior part of the offensive line had a lot to do with it, Green didn't do himself any favors either.

That would be a shot at former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who recently made some comments about Green ahead earlier this offseason. If you remember, it was a slight jab at both Green and former General Manager Kevin Collbert that he made on his own Footbahlin' podcast. Many people took it as a diss at his former teammate. Green was under center for the quarterback's final year in the NFL in 2021, which happened to be the center's rookie campaign.

"The guy that they drafted, and I love this guy, I love Kendrick Green. He was my center my last year; They drafted that guy to be my center. Well, last year, he didn’t even dress. Now they have him playing a little fullback," Roethlisberger said about Green.

Green did have some bright moments in Latrobe, and fans even began to cheer loudly for him. It didn't translate to game environments though, as he struggled in the preseason. That's been a reoccurring theme for him in his career, as his athleticism isn't enough to make up for his deficiencies. In 2022, Pro Football Focus gave him just a 52.4 overall grade, which was amongst the worst at his position.

It all seemed like a bit of desperation move for the Texans, who clearly need some help along the offensive line. The team has completely revamped their roster this offseason, making the squad younger as a whole. It's unclear to see how a guy like Green could fit into their plans, but he does still have two more years on his rookie contract. It'll be interesting to see where Houston uses him.

Why Did The Steelers-Kendrick Green Experiment Not Work?

Based off Caserio's comments, it seems like Green will be a backup, rotational offensive line piece for the AFC South squad. Will they try him at fullback too? Unlikely, just based off what we saw in the preseason from him. Then again, if they watched that film, it's hard to imagine giving up a draft pick for him. It all seems like an unnecessary shot from Caserio toward the future Hall of Famer in Roethlisberger.

What are your thoughts on these comments made by the Texans GM? Do you think Roethlisberger was throwing shade at his former teammate? Will Green see the field at all in Houston in 2023? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below, yinz!

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