Steelers' Diontae Johnson Drawing Big Time Trade Interest From General Managers Ahead Of Free Agency

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a very thin wide receiver room entering 2024 free agency and the new league year. It got even lighter on Friday when the organization made the decision to release veteran Allen Robinson II due to cap reasons. The only contributors from the 2023 squad that remain under contract are Diontae Johnson, George Pickens and Calvin Austin III. That could soon become even lighter as free agency approaches. The organization is reportedly open to, and receiving interest from teams, is trading away Johnson, for the right price.

According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, Pittsburgh dealing Johnson isn't out of the question. She reported on Saturday morning that the pass catcher may be available via trade.

The Steelers would absolutely have to get solid draft compensation for the wideout. He is one of the best route runners in the NFL and if he is on a different team in 2024, the franchise has some serious problems with depth in the receiving room. This would leave just Pickens and Austin as the only reliable guys on the roster, if a trade is to occur prior to free agency beginning.

Johnson was drafted by the organization in the third round back in 2019. He has been one of the team's best receivers since, but it appears as if the Steelers may be ready to turn the page and look to start fresh at the position. The draft class is deep, and General Manager Omar Khan may be eyeing up multiple talented prospects to draft.

Pittsburgh owes Johnson a $3 million roster bonus on March 16th, so if a deal is going to commence, it's going to happen sooner rather than later. In his five-year career, the elite route runner has 391 catches, 4,363 and 25 touchdowns. It's not surprising that teams are interested in his services. He could immediately step in and be a second, or even first, wide receiver on a franchise's depth chart.

It seems unfathomable for the Steelers to have just Pickens and Austin as the only legitimate options as free agency ramps up. The price will have to be right for Khan, but if he can get a second-round pick for Chase Claypool, it's not unreasonable to think that he can swindle a team into coughing up the same for a guy with Johnson's talents. It might be a risky move, but with if the team has no plans on extending him, they might as well get compensation for him while he's drawing attention from teams.

Whether the quarterback is Kenny Pickett, Russell Wilson, or someone else, losing a valuable weapon like Johnson isn't going to sound attractive. Overall, Khan must have a plan in place if Johnson is dealt. Who knows, maybe a team trying to move on from one of their top receivers would be open to a swap of players. Everything is on the table with Khan.

Steelers Have Plenty Of Offensive Issues To Address

It's more than just the wide receiver room for Pittsburgh. The entire offense is going to go through a small overhaul. The team needs a center and maybe even a quarterback. The right tackle position is also a priority. Talented wide receivers don't grow on trees, but the Steelers draft the position better than almost any franchise. Receiving a day two pick for Johnson might make complete sense. Teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills are intriguing potential destinations for Johnson.