Steelers' quarterback situation reportedly led to Diontae Johnson's trade request

For the Pittsburgh Steelers and general manager Omar Khan, the biggest headlines surrounding the team this offseason has been the situation at quarterback. It started with rumors and then the eventual signing of veteran Russell Wilson. The team then moved on from 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett and traded for a 2021 first-rounder in Justin Fields. The biggest non-quarterback story was Diontae Johnson being sent off to the Carolina Panthers. The breakup between Johnson and the organization that drafted him seemed inevitable, especially after the emergence of George Pickens.

Johnson was selected by the Steelers in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He was effective in all five of his seasons with Pittsburgh, but only eclipsed 1,000 yards one time, that being in 2021. That season earned him an extension that would presumably keep him in the Steel City through the 2024 season. That will never come to fruition due to the trade with Carolina.

There were several reports that Pittsburgh would be open to trading him, and it was also reported that he had requested to be dealt to a different organization. There could have been numerous reasons for the desire to leave town, but Mark Kaboly of The Athletic told fans in a mailbag on Tuesday morning that the wideout didn't believe he could sign another lucrative contract if he stuck around in 2024.

"Johnson was traded because he was heading into the final year of his contract, he wasn’t going to be re-signed and he felt the Steelers’ quarterback situation wasn’t going to put him in the position to cash out on another contract next year," Kaboly wrote.

It's more than likely that Johnson's alleged request to be traded happened before all of the quarterback drama. If he had already decided that he wouldn't be playing for the Steelers in 2024, he wouldn't have been able to go back on his word after Wilson agreed to sign. It's clear that, for whatever reason, Johnson didn't believe in Pickett whatsoever.

The move to deal Johnson to the Panthers helped the Steelers' cornerback room, as Donte Jackson was welcomed to Pittsburgh, but it left a gaping hole at wide receiver. No one outside of the building is quite sure what the plan is, but there isn't a doubt in anyone's mind about Khan selecting a wideout on day one or two of the 2024 NFL Draft. Pickens isn't going to be able to run the show all by himself.

Johnson enters an interesting situation in Carolina. Bryce Young is entering his second season and is already having to hear about the star-in-the-making that is CJ Stroud. The Panthers are doing everything they can to bring in talent to help Young, and Johnson will be one of their biggest play-makers on the offensive side of the ball. It's hard to imagine him having more wins than the Steelers in 2024, however.

Despite a strong five seasons in Pittsburgh, Johnson's play dropped off after the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger. He will always be viewed as an elite route-runner, but didn't even find the end zone in the 2022 season. Some wide receivers truly blossom with the right quarterback, and now the Steelers are attempting to pair Wilson and Pickens to create the next dynamic duo.

Steelers Have Plenty Of Work To Do In Wide Receivers Room

Overall, trading Johnson can be looked at as a strong move for Khan and Co. As Kaboly noted, he wasn't going to re-sign in 2025, and Pittsburgh had a big need at cornerback, which was somewhat filled with the addition of Jackson. Other than Pickens, however, the wide receivers room is a tough one to look at. With Khan, nothing can be ruled out. Drafting one or two at the position is absolutely in play, but don't let your guard down. A trade could transpire as well.

Are you surprised Johnson wanted to leave because he wanted to cash in come the 2025 offseason?