Steelers Must Keep Diontae Johnson If Trade Market Is A Loser

The Pittsburgh Steelers and General Manager Omar Khan have been making serious roster changes in the early portion of the 2024 offseason. The organization has already released six players, and has been reported to be talking to other teams about possibly trading wide receiver Diontae Johnson. Johnson was hurt for a large chunk of time during 2023, and he had his best season statistically in 2021, so it is hard to imagine what the trade market for him could look like.

The Steelers' divisional rival, the Cleveland Browns, made a move to acquire Jerry Jeudy from the Denver Broncos via trade. Jeudy is just 24 years old, and has yet to eclipse the 1,000 receiving yards mark in his first four seasons in the NFL. He has certainly been a disappointment for the Broncos after they selected him with the 15th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and he has never played to the level of which he was drafted. Jeudy was traded to the Browns for two late picks in the 2024 Draft, as the Broncos and Head Coach Sean Payton attempt a rebuild.

Jeudy was dealt for a fifth and a sixth round pick in 2024. If the Steelers are seriously fielding calls from other NFL teams about trading for Johnson, they should be able to get more than what Denver got for Jeudy. Johnson should be dealt for a day two pick in the draft, and probably a late-round pick also.

Jeudy has never had more than 70 receptions in a season during his career while Johnson has eclipsed that mark in three out of his five seasons in the NFL. Both wide receivers have shown an emotional side, with Johnson getting into fights with teammates and Jeudy getting mad at the media. They are very similar players, except Johnson is way more productive on the field. Johnson has played with an older Ben Roethlisberger, struggling Kenny Pickett, horrible Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph, and he has still put up better numbers than Jeudy in his career. 

Johnson currently has one year left on his contract, and he is scheduled to have a cap hit of nearly $16 million in 2024. Jeudy also has just a year left, and his cap hit will be nearly $13 million in 2024 during his fifth-year option season. Both receivers will need to be paid again following the 2024 season, and since Jeudy was traded so it is safe to assume the Browns might try to extend him before the 2024 season kicks off. The same would happen for Johnson if he were to be traded to a new team; they would try to workout a deal for him to stay there long term.

The Steelers would be better off keeping Johnson if the return for him would be anything similar to what Denver got for Jeudy. Johnson is a far superior player that should go for at least a day two pick along with a late pick.

Steelers' Receiver Room Would Be Thin If Johnson Is Traded

If Khan decides to deal Johnson, George Pickens would be the only established receiver on the Steelers roster. The organization released Allen Robinson II, which would leave unproven players like Calvin Austin III and Denzel Mims being relied upon to play serious snaps at receiver. 

The Steelers have plenty of time to revamp their wide receiver room. The 2024 NFL Draft is full of talented receiver prospects, and if the Steelers do trade Johnson they will have more picks to use to find talent through the draft. Free agency is also set to kick off soon, and since the Steelers have made necessary roster moves, they have freed up cap space to make a play for a receiver in free agency.

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