New Panthers WR motivated to receive 'big contract'

Several wide receivers have gotten big-time paydays this offseason, which has been highlighted by the Minnesota Vikings' Justin Jefferson becoming the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.

Wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who the Panthers traded for in March after the Pittsburgh Steelers weren't interested in giving him a contract extension, has watched just that over the past few months. As a result, he is looking forward to his next payday.

"It's crazy," Johnson said, via Anthony Rizzuti of USA Today. "Everybody getting all these big contracts — it just motivates me to keep working. God gonna give it to me when he ready, so I just gotta keep stacking days and not really worry."

Johnson is heading into the final year of his contract, but if he wants to earn new wide receiver money, he will need to take his game to another level this season.

In 2023, the 27-year-old registered 51 catches for 717 yards and five touchdowns in 14 games with three different starting quarterbacks (Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph and Mitchell Trubisky).

That isn't bad by any means given the circumstances, but he will need to at least return to being a 1,000-yard receiver like he was in 2021 (1,161 yards) if he hopes to get another pay raise next offseason.

Johnson knows that, so he is solely focused on making plays whenever given the opportunity.

"If I press, that's gonna throw my game off and I'm doing stuff I don't normally do out there trying to make plays," Johnson added. "But just gotta stay relaxed, just keep being humble, make my plays."

Much of Johnson's success will be determined by whether quarterback Bryce Young can make a jump heading into his second year in the league. If he does, there's a good chance Johnson gets the extension he's looking for.

"If they feel like they want to extend me, then I'm all for it," Johnson stated.