Terry McLaurin deal doesn't mean Steelers will pay Diontae Johnson?

Last week, Ari Meirov of Pro Football Focus named Diontae Johnson of the Pittsburgh Steelers as potentially one of the next wide receivers who could sign a "big-money extension" this summer. That was before the Washington Commanders and Terry McLaurin came to terms on an agreement that reportedly is worth up to $71 million in new money and includes a $28 million signing bonus.

As noted by ESPN stats, Johnson is coming off a Pro Bowl season in which he tallied team-highs of 107 receptions, 169 targets, 1,161 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches. The 25-year-old is also in the final year of his rookie contract, but at least one columnist doesn't believe the Steelers will be in any rush to sign Johnson just because Washington made McLaurin a happy man on Tuesday. 

For a piece published on Wednesday, Tim Benz of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review wrote why he thinks the McLaurin development means nothing as it pertains to Johnson's future. 

"If the Steelers were going to be inclined to sign Johnson, don’t you think a contract would’ve been done by now after the likes of less high-profile players such as Christian Kirk (four years, $72 million) and Hunter Renfrow (two-year extension, $32 million with $21 million guaranteed) got huge contracts, too?" Benz noted. 

Benz added that the Steelers could just "draft another Diontae Johnson next year" if the two sides part ways after the upcoming season. 

"I think that was part of their thinking when they drafted George Pickens out of Georgia in the second round this offseason. Most likely, fourth-round pick Calvin Austin III factors into that context as well," Benz continued. 

"The Steelers like Johnson as a player. They don’t like paying eye-popping dollars to wide receivers. They did for Antonio Brown. They kept paying Hines Ward deep into his career. I don’t think they view Johnson as being as unique as either of those two."

Remember, also, that it's still unclear exactly how Johnson and others will produce in an offense no longer guided by future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. It's possible not paying Johnson following Roethlisberger's retirement was Pittsburgh's plan all along even before the wide receiver market exploded during the springtime months.