PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – How does Diontae Johnson measure up to what Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said Monday about signing players to big contracts?
Colbert asked at the team’s pre-draft news conference what separates a wide receiver who is worth playing $22-24 million from a rookie given all of the depth at the position right now?
Before we get to the couple-decade general manager’s answer. How about some background on the question?
Reportedly San Francisco receiver Deebo Samuel has requested a trade as the three-year veteran wants paid market value for the numbers he’s put up even though he’s under contract for another season. Ideally the trade for Samuel would include a new contract from his new employer.
Steelers Diontae Johnson has made no such demands at this point. He was drafted the same year as Samuel, AJ Brown and Terry McLaurin. All are successful and worth far more than what they will get in their last year of the rookie deal.
If it would get to the point where Johnson demands a new contract, the value could be anywhere from $16-24 million given other deals. The third-round pick made his first Pro Bowl finishing fifth in the NFL in receptions and 10th in yards. He also had career-highs in nearly every category.
“Any player at any position that we desire to pay, we feel he better be special at his position and maybe exceed where he was drafted and just recognize what they have accomplished at this level,” Colbert said. “Again, I think we can do that at any given position for that special player within that group.”
So is that Diontae Johnson?
We don’t know the parameters of what the Steelers consider ‘special at his position’. Is being in the top 10 in two of the biggest categories alone signify as special? Does his improvement during his three seasons signal there is more to come, making him special?
NFL leading receiver Cooper Kupp had a very similar improvement his third year in the league. He was a third-round pick from a non-Power Five school, same credentials as Johnson. Kupp, now a six-year veteran, is signed for two more seasons at $15.75 million.
While Kupp took it to a different level in 2021, in his first season with a better quarterback, you would still argue that Johnson exceeded his draft selection. Going from the 66th overall pick to the Pro Bowl in three years is a big accomplishment.
Consider this as the team decides if they want to pay Johnson or look for replacements in his year’s draft.
· Of the top 10 in the NFL in receptions in 2021, only two were drafted in the first round. One other in the second round and all others were taken in the third round or lower.
· Tyreek Hill has the richest contract at $30 million followed by Davante Adams at $28 million, DeAndre Hopkins at $27.25 million and Stefon Diggs at $24 million.
· According to Pro Football Focus receiver is the third deepest position with 16 of the top 100 players in the 2022 Draft
No movement before the NFL Draft, if any at all with Johnson and a new contract this season. We should get a better feel for what the team is thinking based on their selections over the seven rounds starting Thursday.