Yesterday saw another high-profile wideout from the 2019 class sign a massive extension, turning attention even further to Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson. He could be the next in line to secure a new contract, and knowing that, he has mostly been a spectator so far at training camp. 

Mark Kaboly of The Athletic notes that the former third-rounder has been essentially ‘holding-in’ since his arrival at camp (subscription required). The reason for doing so, of course, is the fact that he has one year remaining on his rookie contract and is aiming for a significant raise on a multi-year pact.

The WR market has erupted this offseason, with $20MM-per-season deals becoming the new benchmark at the position, especially for players in their prime. At 25, Johnson has been expected to land a contract similar to those signed by D.J. Moore (three years, $61.884MM) and Mike Williams (three years, $60MM) in recent months, which would rank him below 2019 classmates A.J. Brown, DK Metcalf and Terry McLaurin.

However, it was reported earlier this month that the Steelers – whose top remaining priority is establishing Johnson’s financial future, having already done so with safety Minkah Fitzpatrick – are not expected to offer the 25-year-old an extension averaging $20MM-per-annum. That has left both parties in their current situation, and fuelled speculation that the 2022 campaign will be Johnson’s last in Pittsburgh.

Kaboly adds that Johnson “does want to remain a Steeler,” but also that the player is “unsure” at this point if contract talks are ongoing. The Steelers rank towards the top of the league in terms cap space both this year and, more importantly, next. Johnson is in line to once again operate as Pittsburgh’s top pass-catcher, though the franchise has a history of letting wideouts leave in free agency when signing their second contracts, and added George Pickens and Calvin Austin III in this year’s draft.

Another season of increased production would give Johnson consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns and boost his free agent value. Whether or not he will be on the field in the build-up to the season, and where he will be playing in 2023, though, remain very much in question at this point.

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.

Diontae Johnson is three months from his contract season, and while it is unclear if the Steelers’ top wide receiver will play a fourth year on his rookie deal, the Steelers have yet to engage in serious talks. Johnson said the team has not made an extension offer, according to veteran NFL reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala (on Twitter).

The Steelers usually hammer out their extensions just before the season. Numerous veterans have signed late-summer deals to stay in Pittsburgh. New GM Omar Khan confirmed the team will continue to not discuss extensions in-season. What makes Johnson’s case more interesting is the team’s history with wide receivers and the team undoubtedly preparing a lucrative Minkah Fitzpatrick re-up. Those talks will take precedence over any negotiations with Johnson, who is believed to want to stay with the Steelers long-term.

Although Pittsburgh gave Antonio Brown two extensions, the rest of the team’s post-Hines Ward receiver troops moved on during or after their contract years. JuJu Smith-Schuster is a slight exception as well, having re-signed in 2021. But he left for Kansas City this year. And Johnson will be on track for a more lucrative deal. The team traded Santonio Holmes to the Jets after four seasons, let Mike Wallace join the Dolphins after his rookie deal expired in 2013 and operated the same way regarding Emmanuel Sanders, who signed with the Broncos a year later.

Pittsburgh, which also let James Washington join Smith-Schuster in leaving this year, drafted George Pickens in Round 2 and Calvin Austin III in Round 4. The team has a tremendous track record of receiver development, pointing to potential hesitancy in extending Johnson on an exploding receiver market. The former third-round pick is coming off his first 1,000-yard season and stands to be the top weapon for the team’s post-Ben Roethlisberger starting quarterback.

The team has time to finalize its path with Johnson and has the franchise tag at its disposal in 2023. Should Fitzpatrick not agree to a deal this year, he would be in line for a 2023 tag. For now, Johnson joins D.K. Metcalf, Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel as 2019 receiver draftees going into contract years. The Seahawks, Commanders and 49ers, respectively, have each indicated a desire to extend these players. The Steelers have not done so with Johnson yet. Another quality season from the soon-to-be 26-year-old pass catcher will position him for a big free agency accord.

Diontae Johnson made headlines last week when he joined the group of extension-eligible wideouts choosing not to attend the first week of their team’s OTAs. He has now changed course on that decision, however. 

As noted (on Twitter) by ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, the 25-year-old is in fact with the team now, and conducting on-field work. All activity at this point in the offseason is voluntary, so Johnson’s absence was much different than what it would be if he were to repeat it in June. Still, his presence will be a welcomed sign for the rest of the team’s offense.

That unit includes new quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who has been taking first-team reps so far. Developing chemistry between the pair – something which, in fairness, already began informally earlier in the offseason – will go a long way to developing the team’s passing game. Whether Trubisky or top pick Kenny Pickett ends up winning the starting job in the fall, Johnson will of course be a focal point of Pittsburgh’s offense.

The third-rounder has taken a notable step forward in terms of production during each of his three seasons in the NFL. After coming just short of doing so in 2020, he eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark last season, earning Pro Bowl honors along the way. That has led to optimism for the upcoming campaign, though another strong performance would only inflate his value in free agency.

As a result, the way new general manager Omar Khan will handle this situation bears watching. The Steelers have a history of generally declining to sign wideouts to large second contracts, something which may become more likely if the recent upward trend in the position’s market continues with deals for the likes of Deebo Samuel and Terry McLaurin. Outside of Johnson, Pittsburgh boasts Chase Claypool, along with rookies George Pickens and Calvin Austin as notable young receivers. Last year, running back Najee Harris and tight end Pat Freiermuth showed the potential to become franchise cornerstones as well, but the team’s offensive nucleus would likely be at its best with Johnson in the fold long-term.

With Johnson back on the field, it will be worth monitoring if any progress is made soon regarding a contract extension. In any event, the Steelers will no doubt welcome back their top wideout during a time when other teams are without stars in similar situations.

Although Diontae Johnson‘s situation has not received too much attention, at least compared to the other wide receiver standouts from Day 2 of the 2019 draft, the Steelers’ top pass catcher made some news by skipping his team’s first set of OTAs.

Joining the likes of Deebo Samuel, D.K. Metcalf and Terry McLaurin in going into a contract year, Johnson is unhappy about his contract situation, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic notes (subscription required).

Players do not have to report to OTAs, with only the June minicamp being mandatory, though it certainly helps most by doing so. Johnson, however, has worked out with new quarterback Mitchell Trubisky this offseason, Kaboly adds. The Steelers drafted Kenny Pickett in the first round, making the Pittsburgh alum the clear-cut long-term option. Johnson and the other Steeler receivers stockpiling reps with Pickett would be beneficial.

New Steelers GM Omar Khan said the franchise will not deviate from its Kevin Colbert-era approach of not negotiating contracts in-season. This has led to several late-summer extensions, with T.J. Watt‘s being the most notable from recent years. Minkah Fitzpatrick appears next on that docket. This, along with the franchise’s history at the receiver position, stands to affect Johnson’s status.

While the Steelers have done well to extend their key players, they have made a habit of not giving wideouts second contracts. Antonio Brown proved an exception, but the Steelers moved on from the likes of Santonio Holmes, Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders during or after their rookie deals. Although Pittsburgh gave JuJu Smith-Schuster a one-year deal to return, the team let the young slot receiver defect to Kansas City this offseason. Johnson represents Khan’s first crack at navigating a walk-year receiver situation.

A third-round 2019 draftee, Johnson is coming off his first 1,000-yard season — a 1,161-yard showing that led the team by a wide margin — and stands to be the No. 1 option this year for Trubisky and/or Pickett. But the Steelers’ extension track record and the rising costs at the position may point to the Toledo alum auditioning for a lucrative free agency accord. The Steelers, as they are wont to do, used a Day 2 pick to add another receiver (George Pickens at No. 52 overall). He joins Johnson and Chase Claypool, who is under contract through 2023, as the team’s highest-profile receivers.

Johnson has not flashed in the way Samuel or Metcalf have, but he has shown consistent separation ability. Despite a drop-filled 2020, Johnson maintained the trust of Ben Roethlisberger throughout his final two seasons. McLaurin’s resume is somewhat comparable to Johnson’s; the former is skipping his team’s OTAs as well. A.J. Brown‘s $25MM-per-year Eagles contract — featuring a receiver-most $56MM fully guaranteed — has certainly gotten his peers’ attention. Johnson, 26 in July, represents one of the many interesting wideout situations this offseason presents.