Pittsburgh acquired return specialist Allen Rossum from…

The Exchange

Pittsburgh acquired veteran return specialist Allen Rossum from Atlanta just before the 2007 season. The compensation was a conditional 2008 seventh-round choice, and the condition ultimately delivered No. 232 to the Falcons. Atlanta used that selection on Keith Zinger. The deal was a low-cost attempt by Pittsburgh to strengthen special teams without surrendering meaningful premium draft capital. Pittsburgh Steelers Return Rossum produced exactly the kind of short-term contribution Pittsburgh wanted. He led the Steelers with 885 kickoff-return yards in 2007 and broke a 98-yard return for a touchdown. His stay lasted only one season, so the return was not durable, but he immediately filled a specialized role and created field-position value. For a seventh-round cost, that is a useful outcome. Atlanta Falcons Return Atlanta gained a future late-round selection and eventually used No. 232 on Zinger. Seventh-round picks carry limited expected value, and this one did not develop into a player whose NFL impact surpassed Rossum's productive Pittsburgh season. The Falcons at least converted a veteran returner into an additional draft opportunity, so the transaction was not a pure giveaway. Value in Hindsight The margin is intentionally small. Rossum's contribution was concentrated in one season, and Pittsburgh did not acquire a long-term starter. Still, the Steelers received tangible production in an important special-teams role, while Atlanta's late pick did not create a stronger on-field result. Because the price was only a conditional seventh-round selection, Pittsburgh's short-term benefit was enough to justify the move. Final Verdict Pittsburgh earns a C+ and Atlanta a C. The Steelers won modestly because Rossum provided immediate return-game production and a touchdown at a very low acquisition cost. Atlanta recovered a draft choice, but the resulting player did not generate comparable value. The one-season duration keeps Pittsburgh's grade restrained, making this a narrow practical win rather than a major success.