The Pittsburgh Steelers officially traded wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, the team announced on Wednesday. In return, the team is acquiring cornerback Donte Jackson and executing a pick swap: The Steelers acquire the No. 178th pick, the second pick of the 6th round, for the No. 240th pick, the Steelers’ 7th round selection.
As it was clear, if the Steelers were going to trade wide receiver Diontae Johnson, it will occur in the next week, as he has a $3 million roster bonus due on March 16.
Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda sparked the rumor at the NFL Combine that Johnson could be on the trade block. And it has now come to fruition.
“Is Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson on the trading block? The short answer is possibly, if the price is right.” Pauline wrote. “… While it’s not fair to say Johnson is on the trading block, several people tell me the Steelers are open to moving the receiver if they receive fair compensation.”
Pauline appeared on 93.7 the Fan to discuss what the trade would cost for opposing teams, and unsurprisingly, it would cost a day-two pick. They would need more to trade him because of the potential compensatory pick they would receive in return for Johnson.
“I think they would move him for a third-round pick. I don’t think that they would take a day three selection to move him,” Pauline said.
Johnson was entering the team’s final year of his two-year extension. He missed multiple weeks this past season with a hamstring injury but has become part of the reason for hope around the Steelers’ offense.The talent at the skill positions is all there. But Johnson’s game is marred with inconsistency but his route running skills is some of the best in the entire NFL. He is extremely hard to cover for any team, but the Steelers might not be willing to bring him back after this season, so if they get offered the right deal, they might be willing to move him.
The Steelers showed a ton of interest in the top receivers in the class at the NFL Combine, including Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze, leading to speculation about Johnson’s future. In addition to Odunze meeting with the Steelers at the combine, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams are potential trade up teams.
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