Diontae Johnson Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
According to NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo, it appears that the Kansas City Chiefs contacted the Pittsburgh Steelers about a wide receiver trade including Diontae Johnson.
However, due of their standing in the AFC, Garafolo claims Pittsburgh made every effort to avoid dealing Johnson to the two-time Super Bowl champs.
“(Diontae Johnson) had authorization, his representative did… to pursue a trade,” Garafolo stated on March 12 on NFL Total Access. They spoke with several teams. They have at one time had negotiations with the Kansas City Chiefs. However, it didn’t appear like they would, if at all feasible, move him to a competitor in the AFC. sending him to the Carolina Panthers of the NFC, who had been searching for a receiver since last season.
Being at the top of the food chain has costs associated with it, such as other teams choosing not to improve upon your team.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Steelers chose to send Johnson and a seventh-round pick to Carolina rather than to the Chiefs in exchange for cornerback Donte Jackson and a sixth-round pick.
Diontae Johnson All Set for a New Beginning
Johnson, 27, was selected by the Steelers in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, 66th overall, out of Toledo.
Johnson, who is 5-foot-10 and weighs 183 pounds, lacks the physicality to dominate NFL cornerbacks. To help him get open frequently, though, his excellent footwork, quickness, and shiftiness surpass his stature and speed (he ran a 4.53 40-yard dash to the NFL Scouting Combine).
2021, the last NFL season for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, was Johnson’s finest season to date. According to PFF, Johnson had career highs in those categories that season: targets (166), receptions (107), receiving yards (1,161), and touchdowns (8).
However, Johnson’s output suffered once Roethlisberger left in 2022 and was replaced by quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett as well as wide receiver George Hendricks.
Johnson’s 2023 season had some of his lowest single-season totals since his rookie season (51 catches, 717 receiving yards, 5 touchdowns), following an 86-882-0 stat line during the 2022 campaign.
The 2023 season saw Johnson perform less well on the field due to frustration stemming from his inconsistent play at quarterback and bad play-calling by offensive coordinator Matt Canada (who was fired during the season).
Russell Wilson, the quarterback, was signed by the Steelers lately, and Arthur Smith was appointed offensive coordinator. However, it’s still unclear how Pittsburgh’s offensive will perform in the future.
Johnson, who will now play at Carolina, is expected to be Bryce Young’s favorite target in his second year as a quarterback in 2024.
Chiefs Need to Look Away for WR Assistance
Johnson would have fit in well with the Chiefs, who have a number of inexperienced receivers aside from second-year wideout Rashee Rice. Johnson would have given quarterback Patrick Mahomes an additional safety valve as a versatile receiver, which would have enhanced Kansas City’s attack as a whole.
To fill its receiver position, Kansas City will need to consider the draft, free agency, and other trade possibilities.
The Chiefs have $15.3 million in cap space after Mahomes adjusted his contract on March 12 in an effort to save money, as reported by Over The Cap.
