The 49ers and Seahawks have expressed continued optimism about extensions for Deebo Samuel and D.K. Metcalf, respectively. The Cardinals are prepared to enter extension talks with Marquise Brown. Philadelphia and Washington have already shown how much they value their respective fourth-year receiver talents, with the NFC East teams extending A.J. Brown and Terry McLaurin this offseason.
Diontae Johnson‘s offseason has ventured into a different neighborhood. The Steelers have taken care of their top extension priority, inking Minkah Fitzpatrick to a market-resetting deal, but as of a few weeks ago, they are not believed to have submitted an offer to their No. 1 wideout. Once that offer comes, Johnson’s camp may not be pleased.
The Steelers are unlikely to move into the territory the Commanders did for McLaurin, per Mark Kaboly of The Athletic, who adds the team should not be expected to top $20MM per year for Johnson (subscription required). This sets up the prospect of an intriguing contract year, with Kaboly expecting Johnson to depart as a 2023 free agent.
Although it is still fairly early here, with the Steelers often extending players in the weeks leading up to the season, the Johnson-Pittsburgh relationship has headed toward a 2023 split for a bit now. The Steelers generally let wideouts walk after their first contracts expire, and the exploding receiver market stands to make the team more hesitant about doling out a monster contract here.
“It’s not like you don’t see it,” Johnson said last month, regarding the new-look wideout market. “You see it. A bell rings in your head like, such and such got this and such and such got that. I try not to look at that or pocket watch. Whoever gets the contract, they deserve it. They obviously put in the time and work. My time is going to come. Just being patient. If it comes this year, it’s a blessing. If it don’t, keep working.”
Since these comments, McLaurin received a three-year deal worth more than $23MM on average to become the NFL’s 11th $20MM-plus-AAV wideout. McLaurin’s deal should impact Johnson’s asking price. The latter’s 2021 yardage output (1,161) tops McLaurin’s best work to date, and the Steelers’ shifty pass catcher has one Pro Bowl honor (albeit as an alternate) to the McLaurin’s zero. Samuel and Metcalf will aim to eclipse McLaurin’s pact, with A.J. Brown‘s $25MM AAV and receiver-high $56MM guaranteed surely in each NFC West target’s sights. Johnson’s range is murkier, but his draft classmates have done well to raise peers’ asking prices.
It is not certain the Steelers see Johnson as a No. 1 receiver, per Paul Zeise of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who offers the team might wait until 2023 to make its final offer — after another season’s worth of evidence on the former third-rounder’s value. Johnson, 26 today, could opt to take a lesser offer ahead of the season — for security purposes — but the rising receiver market points to a bet-on-himself season. Mike Wallace made that move 10 years ago, turning down a five-year offer worth $50MM — leading to the Steelers’ first Antonio Brown extension — before receiving a better deal from the Dolphins in free agency (5/60) in 2013.
Although the Steelers drafted yet another Day 2 wideout this year (George Pickens), Johnson still figures to be the team’s top target in 2022. Barring injury, that status should put him in strong position to command a nice payday — one that could well come via free agency.
As they shouldn’t. Johnson has been a target hawk for a declining Rothelisburger, but I’m not sure he’s an elite talent.
I don’t watch every Steelers’ game, but I don’t think he is a pure 1 and succeeds more as a 2 or 3/slot to get under the cover 2 or over it on press coverage.
I think you’re pretty much spot on, but some of that isn’t on Diontae, it’s the fault of how limited their offensive design has been, and how limited Ben’s arm seemed to be the last couple of years. This season may tell us a lot about what kind of receiver Johnson really is.
Yeah he hasn’t been in a great offensive that compliments him. He would be an amazing 2. He can be a teams 1 I believe, he is a top 15-20 WR.
he’s very similar to Emanual Sanders but without the sure hands
underrated elite talent.
fine with bringing him back, but WR room lookin thick rn
His hands, which is the number one requirement in my opinion for a receiver, are not reliable. Too many drops for a WR looking for $20M+ per.
His lack of size limits Johnson on some of the types of routes that he can run, and in his ability to break press (something that most of the Steelers struggled doing recently), but his athleticism is very good and Johnson runs routes cleverly. He’s definitely stepped up a good deal since joining the rotation.
But it wasn’t just Ben’s arm, the offensive scheme, or the terrible line play (the last being the biggest factor by far) that impacted the Steelers’ offense. The wideouts struggled being reliable as a whole. Johnson was the best, but he wasn’t completely free of issues. His age (older, but certainly not old) and his reliability issues will likely keep him from seeing McLaurin’s money, but it’s likely that Pittsburgh offers him a mid level deal.
The biggest factor here, of course, is how those QBs turn out. It won’t be worth it to hand out a big receiver contract if you haven’t seen tangible upside on the field from a QB yet.
I don’t see the Steelers keeping Diontae. I lean towards agreeing that they shouldn’t although I wouldn’t hate it if they did extend him. I will say this: Johnson has been a true pro when it comes to the issue of his contract. He’s honest, he’s forthright, but he’s not making it into a distracting issue at least so far.
considering he’s not holding out, they have the luxury of seeing what he’s worth this season..
he could very well end up being an irreplaceable piece to the short passing offense , in which case pay up
rather keep Dionte than Claypool.. maybe even trade Claypool next off-season if Dionte is resigned
Johnson is no where near a 20 million dollar receiver, in fact he is barely double digits
That’s just not true. I wouldn’t give him $20 million, but to say he’s barely double digits in the market we’ve seen unfold this offseason is flat out wrong.
ya i see him more of a 17.5 kinda guy right now, but could easily push 20 with a monster year
Yeah problem is they are the Steelers with Najee Harris and Mitch Trubisky, maybe Mitch can still get it to him.
I think having a short pass reliant QB makes Dionte infinitely more valuable
The Steelers just don’t keep their receivers at top of the market prices, and that’s worked out fine for them. It’s a great argument for regularly investing high round picks in the position group, whether it’s presently urgent or not. It’s more responsible to let strong receivers walk if you’re always planning ahead for that.
The Steelers view the WR position like the rest of the league views running backs. The team knows that every year there’s about a dozen WR’s with enough potential to have solid NFL careers. So they just draft one or two every year and never have to worry about signing anyone to a mega deal because they have a replacement already on the roster. George Pickens in the second round this past draft was certainly insurance for Johnson and/or Claypool leaving in the next couple years as an example.
He was the recipient of Roethlisberger playing hot potato with the football
If the guy caught everything thrown into his hands, I might say “pay him”, but he drop passes, so “pass”
2 year 30 mill. Let him get some bag and prove himself and he will still be able to cash in with plenty of career left
Not happening. Steelers never pay WRs (AB exception for obvious reasons). They drafted 2 WRs for a reason
Given what other mediocre WR’s have gotten, someone should pay him.
That “someone” should not be a team that drafts WR as well as the Steelers.
I would have traded him before this past draft when the Jets and other teams missed out on Hill, etc.
Is there anyone who thinks he should get $20 million from the Steelers?
The Steelers seem to know how to find receivers so why overpay one already on the squad when you can get an equivalent one for much cheaper in the draft?
If I were them I would trade this guy to the Packers, Colts, or Browns for a big pick in next year’s draft – as there is no way they are winning more than 8 games with Trubisky at QB, regardless of who he is throwing to.