What to expect now that the Pittsburgh Steelers have traded Pro Bowl WR Diontae Johnson for a CB
While the writing may have been on the wall regarding the Pittsburgh Steelers and Diontae Johnson, the news of his departure has been met with surprise. That's not because Johnson was traded, but rather what he netted the Steelers in return. Here is a look at why it happened, what to expect from new CB […]
While the writing may have been on the wall regarding the Pittsburgh Steelers and Diontae Johnson, the news of his departure has been met with surprise.
That's not because Johnson was traded, but rather what he netted the Steelers in return.
Here is a look at why it happened, what to expect from new CB Donte Jackson and what the trade means for the team going forward:
Why Trade Your Most Tenured Offensive Player?
On paper, this trade is head-scratching. Why would a team trade a proven and productive weapon, who is also the most tenured offensive player and a reliable option for any QB and has yet to turn 28 years old?
I'll explain:
First off, Johnson was going to leave Pittsburgh one way or another. 2024 was the final year on his current deal and it was highly unlikely the Steelers would re-sign him per my understanding of the situation.
Part of the reason why Pittsburgh decided to move off of Johnson is their confidence in their ability to find the next Diontae Johnson in the second or third round of this year's draft, much less the first.
On top of that, whether he admits it or not, Johnson's actions and words lent you to believe he had about run his course in Pittsburgh and was looking for a fresh start. So when you take a 10,000-foot view and analyze all the variables hopefully the picture starts to look a little clearer.
What Is Pittsburgh Getting From Donte Jackson?
With Pittsburgh only acquiring a sixth-round pick in exchange for a seventh, the key, and most obvious asset to analyze in the trade is CB Donte Jackson.
The way I view it, Jackson is a less decorated but younger version of what the Steelers acquired last year in Patrick Peterson. Primarily an outside corner, Jackson could serve as a stopgap starter while Pittsburgh continues their search for Joey Porter Jr.'s running mate for years to come.
And if Pittsburgh decides to address outside CB early in the draft, than similar to Peterson last year, Jackson could potentially kick inside and play slot CB, a position he's familiar with dating back to his time in college at LSU.
So for a little over a $500k total when combing through all the contract details and swap of money that was due to Johnson for money due to Jackson, finding a capable starter with years of experience despite being only 28 years old is perfectly fine.
What Happens Now?
Look, you won't find someone who believes in building out your WR corps more than me. One WR, no matter how good he is, will never be enough, especially with the Steelers QB situation.
But when you have George Pickens stored away in your back pocket, around $20 million left to spend in free agency, and three picks in rounds 1-3 that can all be used to target the position you're most known for drafting, it makes the decision to trade Johnson a lot easier.
Based on the Steelers' inactivity in the earlier parts of free agency when it comes to the offensive line, paired with this trade and the money they have left, I think the following days and months look like this regarding Pittsburgh's roster construction:
Acquire veteran WR talent in the second and third wave of free agency, draft an offensive lineman, likely center in round one, and add another WR in round two of the draft, as this year's crop of WR talent is arguably the deepest in recent memory.
Final Word
So here's the thing, social media is going to tell you the Steelers got fleeced and the Panthers won the trade because they acquired a Pro Bowler, offloaded a CB they didn't want and only gave up a sixth-round pick.
But a look beneath the surface shows that this was apart of the Steelers' plans all along.
