Steelers WR Diontae Johnson: 'I felt like I took the right deal'

Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver Diontae Johnson had been involved in a so-called "hold in" and was not a full participant in training camp practices as he looked to secure an extension ahead of potentially playing on the final year of his rookie contract. 

Johnson and his camp had watched as D.K. Metcalf of the Seattle Seahawks and Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers recently put pen to paper on lucrative deals. Specifically, Metcalf signed a three-year extension reportedly worth $72 million with $58.2 million guaranteed, while Samuel earned a three-year extension reportedly worth up to $73.5 million with $58.1 million guaranteed. 

Thus, some were surprised to learn on Thursday that Johnson and the Steelers had agreed to a two-year, $36.71 million extension that includes $27 million guaranteed and that theoretically could make the 26-year-old available to would-be buyers as soon as next offseason. Johnson spoke with reporters about why he signed a short-term contract and didn't bet on himself through this coming fall. 

"I felt like I took the right deal," Johnson explained, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. "I’m not worried about what everybody else is making. . . . You see the numbers. I wasn’t trying to look at everybody’s pockets. They deserve it. I can’t control what they’ve got going on. I’m just worried about what I’ve got going on. I was able to come up with something." 

Johnson finished the 2021 regular season leading the Steelers with 107 catches for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns. However, Pittsburgh rookie receiver and Georgia Bulldogs product George Pickens has widely impressed during training camp practices, and his presence could allow the Steelers to shop Johnson as soon as this coming winter.