The Pittsburgh Steelers were more active than ever during the 2024 offseason. Omar Khan proved he is very different from former General Manager Kevin Colbert, as he was wheeling and dealing for months on end. He still hasn't stopped, as he has been in a constant pursuit of star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Khan would be filling a need at receiver by acquiring Aiyuk, a need that Khan created himself by trading away Diontae Johnson.
Johnson was productive for Pittsburgh when he was healthy, and he should be considered one of the more underrated receivers in the league. He spent five seasons with the Steelers, but displayed a poor attitude at times that began to grow old. He had stints of showing little effort during the 2023 season, and Khan made the decision to trade him. Steelers insider Brian Batko went on 93.7 The Fan on Saturday and gave a glimpse into why Pittsburgh made that decision.
"He [George Pickens] was kind of sharing the roost with Diontae Johnson these last couple of years. Diontae Johnson was another guy too who I think, I think he was happier if he produced and the Steelers lost than if he was shutout of the box score and the Steelers won. That to me was a big reason why you also had to move on from him, you don't won't Pickens going down the same path."
Ever since the Antonio Brown saga towards the end of the 2018 season, and all of the aftermath, Steelers fans are fairly hypersensitive when it comes to receivers showing diva-like tendencies. Both Johnson and George Pickens have had their moments, and the front office likely saw Johnson as the more expendable of the two. An effort was clearly made to rework the receiver room, and surround Pickens with more team-first players like Van Jefferson and Roman Wilson.
Pickens has the potential to be one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. The team probably saw Johnson as someone who was leading the third-year receiver in the wrong direction.
According to Batko, Johnson cared about his own production and he didn't care much about the outcome of the game if he didn't see the ball. This is the wrong attitude to have in a team sport, especially within an organization like the Steelers. Now, Johnson can go try to continue his career with the Carolina Panthers, a team going through a failing rebuild.
Pickens will now be the number one receiver for the first time in his young career, assuming the Steelers don't pull off the trade for Aiyuk. Pickens has all the abilities to be one of the best in the league as long as he approaches the game with the right attitude. The team-first mentality is crucial, and with Johnson out of the picture it should be easier to achieve.
Steelers Are Reaping The Rewards Of The Diontae Johnson Trade
When Khan dealt Johnson to Carolina, Pittsburgh received veteran cornerback Donte Jackson. Pittsburgh also exchanged a seventh round pick for a sixth round pick, which sweetened the deal. Jackson fulfilled a need for the Steelers at cornerback, and he is a wise veteran who could help mentor Joey Porter Jr.
Jackson has had a spectacular training camp so far, and has solidified himself as a starter. Jackson is entering his seventh season in the NFL, and he is an upgrade over what Pittsburgh was putting on the field at cornerback during the 2023 season. The starting secondary of Porter, Jackson, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and DeShon Elliott has the potential to be one of the best in the league. Paired with the Steelers pass rush, and the defensive unit should be able to win a lot of games for Pittsburgh in 2024.
