Dallas Cowboys fans probably cracked a laugh when they saw Mike McCarthy joining the Pittsburgh Steelers. After a 49-35 record and a 1-3 playoff record, there must be no love lost for him in Arlington right now.
That being said, the former head coach could become even more of a villain for the Cowboys. Jerry Jones' team is a little tight when it comes to money this offseason, so he could look to steal some of their players for his new-look Steelers. Here, we'll discuss three players whom Mike McCarthy may take with him to Pittsburgh.
Mike McCarthy a Threat to Steal from Dallas After Landing Steelers Job
1. Jalen Tolbert
With George Pickens in town, there weren't many targets available for Jalen Tolbert, not even when CeeDee Lamb was out with an injury. As a result, he finished the campaign with just 18 receptions on 34 targets for 203 yards and one touchdown. He's about to become a free agent, and he's not likely to stay.
Tolbert entered the league as a third-round pick in 2022. He broke out in McCarthy's final season with the team, leading the team with seven touchdown receptions. While he has never gotten even close to 1,000 receiving yards, he might benefit from reuniting with the head coach who brought the best out of him, especially given the Steelers' lack of weapons in the passing game.
2. Javonte Williams
While Javonte Williams didn't play under Mike McCarthy, he makes perfect sense for the Steelers. The fan base isn't too happy about McCarthy's appointment, but bringing back their hard-hitting, run-first identity might be the best way to appease them. That's where stealing one of the most underrated running backs in the game could come in handy. Should that happen to damage Jerry Jones' team, even better.
The Steelers will probably lose receiving running back Kenneth Gainwell in free agency. Kaleb Johnson entered the league with plenty of promise, yet he was barely involved as a rookie. Williams, if healthy, can be an extremely productive player between the tackles, and the Cowboys will have a tough time keeping him in town.
3. Kenny Clark
Kenny Clark has some major ties to McCarthy. He was the coach who drafted him when he was still with the Green Bay Packers, and the Steelers have a longstanding love for physical defensive linemen. As such, he looks like a prime trade candidate for them, and the Cowboys may have no choice but to let him go.
Clark arrived in Arlington as a part of the Micah Parsons trade. He got off to a strong start to the season but ultimately regressed. With the Cowboys trading for Quinnen Williams, they might not be as keen on spending $20 million per year on Clark, who wasn't as effective against the run as they hoped. McCarthy, on the other hand, will gladly take him off their hands.