With the record-setting extension for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick having officially been taken care of, the next major financial task to attend to for the Steelers is a second contract for wideout Diontae Johnson. As detailed by Mark Kaboly of the Athletic (subscription required), Pittsburgh will not deviate from their established procedures to get a deal done. 
[RELATED: Steelers Yet To Offer Extension To Johnson]
As Kaboly writes, Fitzpatrick was, understandably, deemed a higher priority for the team’s front office. New general manager Omar Khan demonstrated his willingness to make a sizeable financial commitment to the two-time All-Pro, but the same may not be true to the same extent in Johnson’s case.
Waiting until this period of the offseason is in line with standard financial planning for the Steelers, so it should come as little surprise that extension talks “will start soon,” per Kaboly. He is quick to add, however, that the team “won’t deviate much” from their internal valuation of Johnson once serious negotiations begin.
The former third-rounder has established himself as the Steelers’ top pass-catcher, increasing his production during each of his three seasons in the league. He eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in 2021, which led to his first Pro Bowl invite. That makes him the latest in a long line of Pittsburgh wideouts who have earned lucrative second contracts, but it remains to be seen if his will come from the Steelers, as few have in years past.
After JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington left in free agency this offseason, the team added George Pickens and Calvin Austin III in the draft. Johnson will stay atop the depth chart into 2022, but new faces in the front office could lead to a lower-valued contract offer than Johnson may presently expect.
The 25-year-old could seek, as other high-profile 2019 draftees have already, a deal which eclipses the $20MM-per-year mark; the skyrocketing WR market has seen the number of players earning that figure rise to 11. Kaboly posits that Johnson could be assured of an extension if he aims for the $16-18MM range, placing him one tier below the top wideouts.
With plenty of time still remaining between now and the start of the season – which is already known as the unofficial deadline for a deal to be worked out – this situation becoming the central focus for Pittsburgh should make it the top story to follow in the short-term.
Kirk’s payday just really complicates things. If I’m DJ’s agent that’s now his absolute floor, and I’d be expecting to blow past it.
Steelers aren’t paying him $20M a year though. If you look at current WR salaries, Johnson seems to slot in more with the $14-16M guys than the $18-20M from a talent standpoint.
Agreed. The Steelers have a history of finding high quality wideouts throughout all days of the draft. Makes zero sense for them to commit $20M+ to Johnson.
You don’t want to get cocky, but yes that is certainly true. Wouldn’t keep me from retaining a superstar (pre-meltdown AB), but I agree on Johnson. I like him for $15M, but not $20M. His highs aren’t high enough and his lows are just too low. He’s a stud #2, but he’s a very low-end WR1 in my book.
Only if he is completely past his case of the dropsies (hoping he is). And it’s probably just me, but I probably wouldn’t sign any WR to a long term contract right now until I get a feel of how he gels with Pickett.
Deserves? Sure. But even if terms are agreed to, signing the contract will not be easy… you have to hold onto the pen, Dionte.
Water under the bridge now, but…they should have traded him (assuming they could get a nice haul, which is reasonable…AKA a few picks to get the next Diontae Johnson +) when there were still serviceable free agents to be had.
This is a little silly.
He isn’t signing for a number that will work for the Steelers.
He’s very likely worth more in trade now than the value of the comp pick they would get.
It’s a rebuilding season.
I don’t see any benefit for anyone if he stays with the Steelers for another year and since he isn’t resigning that is all they could get.
Even if they trade him for a player instead of a pick. A really good lineman on either side would be worth considering.
I would have taken that Hollywood Brown trade for him in a New York minute.
Heck I like the kid, but I’d take a decent looking 2nd for him straight up for the exact reasons you laid out.