Steelers Fans Can't "Pin Anything On [Diontae] Johnson" For George Pickens' Uncontrollable Behavior In 2023

The Pittsburgh Steelers made some shocking changes this offseason. Depending on your feelings about the players who left, you could even call them "addition by subtraction." They allowed all of their 2023 quarterbacks to leave, including trading Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles. Pittsburgh also traded wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers for cornerback Donte Jackson. 

Johnson's release wasn't a complete surprise. He has appeared unhappy for some time, evidenced by his arguing with coaches and teammates, threats to hold out if Mason Rudolph wasn't the starting quarterback, and a fumble response that made him appear apathetic. 

The rocky 2023 season only highlighted that Johnson had yet to live up to the expectations fans placed on him when he was drafted in 2019. During his five years with the organization, he only had one season with more than 1,000 receiving yards (2021); that would also be his only Pro Bowl nod. 

Fans' frustration grew after the Steelers selected George Pickens in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Pickett struggled to get the ball into the hands of either receiver, and they both appeared agitated. With Johnson being the more senior squad member, fans expected him to take Pickens under his wing and mentor him. Others felt that Johnson's behavior was so toxic, that they didn't want him in that role. 

That's why when Johnson was traded, rumors began to swirl that he'd been let go because he was a "bad influence," or wasn't a strong mentor to Pickens. Recently, Pittsburgh sports reporter Mark Kaboly from The Athletic, was asked about this in his mailbag column. He believes Pickens has created his own situation separate from Johnson's and doesn't think the veteran got released to avoid corrupting the younger player.        

"I don't buy that at all. Too many people had red flags on Pickens before he was drafted to pin anything on Johnson," wrote Kaboly.

Kaboly believes Johnson knew the Steelers wouldn't re-sign him and thus wanted out. After all, the Steelers already offered Johnson a very generous two-year contract extension in 2022 for $36.7 million, one many would say he didn't deserve or live up to. The extension surprised many since the Rooney family is often referred to as frugal, and despite a solid 2021, Johnson wasn't producing at that rate. 

Coming off that Pro Bowl season, however, the team had faith that Johnson would become an elite, well-rounded receiver. This was despite Ben Roethlisberger's retirement. It happens all over the NFL, the best receivers produce in nearly any system in which they are placed. But that didn't happen for Johnson. He spent 2022 without catching a single touchdown pass. 

Is The Steelers' Problem Really George Pickens?

Kaboly is right about Pickens coming into the NFL with his own set of red flags. Pickens attended the University of Georgia, and when he announced his decision to declare for the draft, it was met with mixed results. He was probably one of the most intriguing receiver candidates in the 2022 draft, but scouts frequently raised concerns. 

There was an incident in college where he got physical with a player from another team. This isn't exactly unusual behavior in football. Emotions sometimes flare, and it wouldn't have been as alarming as an isolated incident. But the NFL scouts hinted there were other unnamed concerns. 

Comments were made about Pickens being "enabled" at Georgia and that he is his own worst enemy. It is not uncommon for these big university football programs to have handlers that help keep the players in line. While the Steelers tend to deal with diva receivers better than most teams, Pickens still has more freedom than he did in Athens. 

It is unusual to hear in a sport where size, speed, and ability trump nearly everything. They called him a "top six talent," but questioned if anyone would want to work with him. One scout noted that Pickens is full of talent, and if he goes to a team with a room full of veterans, he will have a real chance. 

However, Pickens landed in a room with Johnson, who apparently didn't possess a leadership style that resonated with Pickens. Now, Pickens is the most "senior" member of the wide receiver room as far as time with the team, the only one who's had any substantial playing time with the Steelers. The team brought in Van Jefferson and Quez Watkins, who can hopefully provide the leadership and example Pickens needs. 

The ball is now in Pickens' court. He talks a lot of smack about how he doesn't get enough respect, and now he will have the chance to prove that he deserves it.

What do you think about Johnson's release? Click to comment below!

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