The Pittsburgh Steelers took care of one issue when they traded Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers but created another at the same time. With George Pickens as the primary receiver, it's only a matter of time before the Steelers bring in another. Rumors have connected Pittsburgh to Justin Jefferson and Brandon Aiyuk, but a recent issue regarding offseason workouts may have added Courtland Sutton to that list.
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Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton runs with the ball during the first half the game against the Cleveland Browns
The Denver Broncos began their offseason workouts on Tuesday without Sutton in attendance, as the receiver is aiming for a new contract. The apparent rift between player and team has sparked a new flurry of questions regarding Sutton's future in Denver and whether there could be any connection between Pittsburgh and the receiver. Arthur Moats is hesitant to seriously consider Sutton and the trade that sent Johnson to the Panthers actually plays a large part in that.
"Well, now we know for a fact there is smoke, there is fire, because of this phase starting, and now this is the first thing where we're actually seeing him say, you know, 'I'm not gonna be here until this gets done.' So, that's the part where I am -- I'm like, okay, but what's the number for a dude like Courtland Sutton?... If you're the Steelers, would you pay him what you paid Diontae? I wouldn't."
The Steelers wanted to remove disruption from the locker room and give Johnson the fresh start he desired, so the prospect of bringing in a receiver who is in the midst of his own contract disputes could be the last thing the franchise needs. Moats continued to expand on his perspective regarding Sutton and what it might cost to bring him to Pittsburgh.
"I'm trying to think from the Steelers' perspective. Could you make any one-year situation make sense where you would bump that number [$15 million] up? If he's at 15 right now, could you talk yourself into maybe 17? I still can't -- like, to me, I have a hard problem saying I would pay Courtland Sutton 18 when I was paying Diontae Johnson 18, and we didn't wanna keep that. Because, to me, I still think that DJ is just - I think - a better player."
Johnson was a polarizing player who excelled when it came to route running, but couldn't minimize the mistakes enough. The Steelers' 2023 campaign left no room for error, with a struggling offense unable to carry its share of the weight, leaving the defense out to dry more than a few times.
Johnson was needed to rise above that, but self-inflicted errors became the norm as well as a lack of touchdowns. Pittsburgh will still be looking to add a receiver either during the draft or prior to training camp; the question is how much baggage they want to bring in as well.
%202023%20Camp%20Final%20with%20Logos/2L9A6853-544x306.jpg "Steelers Diontae Johnson")
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Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson smiles as he stands on the field at St. Vincent College during a 2023 training camp practice in Latrobe, PA
Steelers Have Plenty Of Receiver Options Ahead
While Sutton may present more potential issues than he might be worth, the Steelers could be better off looking to the draft for a solution at receiver. Pickens is being given every opportunity to grab that starting receiver role and literally run with it, but whether he can mature to that extent has yet to be seen. Another young, talented pass catcher could be exactly what the team needs to ensure that the offense can flourish even if Pickens doesn't reach the heights they are hoping for.
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Former Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall during a college game
Ricky Pearsall, out of Florida, or Roman Wilson, the former Michigan Wolverines' receiver, could both be excellent additions to Pittsburgh's position group. With Russell Wilson tapped as the starter heading into their 2024 training camp, any rookie the Steelers bring in will be catching passes from a proven leader. The receiver class is incredibly deep ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, which offers Pittsburgh plenty of options with which to replace Johnson.
At the very least, the Steelers want an offense that can get out of its own way. 2023 was a frustrating stretch of disappointing performances and uphill battles, which makes the roster upgrades ahead of 2024 all the more important. It isn't just a team that needs to be rebuilt; it's the standard in Pittsburgh, and so far, things seem to be heading in the right direction.
Which receiver should the Steelers select in the 2024 NFL Draft?
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