With training camp just a few short weeks away for the Pittsburgh Steelers, questions continue to swirl about the future of wide receiver, Diontae Johnson. Entering the final year of his rookie deal, there has been much speculation that the team would like to extend him, but apparently it's nothing the first year Pro Bowler is looking forward to when it comes to compensation. Early rumors surfaced about the fourth-year wideout wanting nearly $15 million per year. Now, with the recent rise of the wide receiver market in the NFL, one Steelers insider believes the team just won't pay Johnson like some of the other top pass-catchers in the league.
Bob Labriola of Steelers.com took to his Asked and Answered segment again this week to address hot topics and questions from Steeler Nation. When asked about Minkah Fitzpatrick's latest contract extension and who the team would like to invest in next, Labriola explained what he thought the team would lean towards:
"With contract extensions, it's not so much that a player 'receives' one as much as a contract extension is agreed upon by the two sides. Based on that, I would guess the player most likely to come to an agreement on a contract extension is Chris Boswell, because I believe it will be difficult for the team and Johnson to agree on compensation within the contract."
Pittsburgh Steelers kicker, Chris Boswell (#9), celebrates a made kick against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. | Peter Diana / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
This latest theory just adds more flame to the fire and substance to what some of the other Pittsburgh insiders have mentioned this past week.
Johnson is coming off a year where he finished tied fifth in receptions (107), 10th in receiving yards (1,161), tied 16th in receiving touchdowns (8), and second in targets (173). In 2020, where Johnson led the league in drops with 13, he finished the 2021 season with only 5, even being targeted 25 more times than he had been the year before.
With only the "big" names ahead of Johnson in most receiving categories such as Cooper Kupp (Los Angeles Rams), Davante Adams (Green Bay Packers / Las Vegas Raiders), Tyreek Hill (Kansas City Chiefs / Miami Dolphins), Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings), and Ja'Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals), one would assume that Johnson is actually on the cusp of truly being an elite wide receiver in this league. With the influx of talent at the wide receiver position that has recently joined the Pittsburgh locker room however, maybe the Steelers front office has other plans in mind.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, George Pickens (#14) participates in the organized team activities (OTA’s), Thursday, June 2, 2022 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. | Karl Roser/ Pittsburgh Steelers
With the recent additions of George Pickens, Calvin Austin III, and even Miles Boykin, coupled with another year of growth from Chase Claypool, the Steelers just may very well be thinking that they can roll the dice by letting Johnson walk after the 2022 season. If Johnson's asking price is now north of $20 million per year, we could very well be looking at Johnson's last season in the black and gold.
As for kicker, Chris Boswell, the Steelers would be wise to keep him around. According to Pro Football Reference, Boswell ranks fourth all-time in field goal percentage (88.35%). He was a Pro Bowler back in 2017, and holds an NFL record of most field goals made in a postseason game (6).
Give props to the most underrated kicker in the NFL.
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) July 3, 2022
Our pick: Chris Boswell pic.twitter.com/4nSNKdy9R0
So what do yinz think? Do you see Johnson returning to the Steelers after 2022? Is Boswell worth the extension himself? Make sure to click to comment below!
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