PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A former NFL general manager, after starting his career as a pro personnel coordinator with the Steelers, Doug Whaley is a believer in a contract extension with fourth-year receiver Diontae Johnson.
"I think it's a smart move," Whaley said during his weekly hour on the Fan Morning Show. "I would be in a real push to get him done before the Deebo Samuels, AJ Brown and Terry McLaurin's."
"What is going to happen, when those guys sign, it's going to push the floor a lot higher. I would try to be first to market and get him in below 20 (million)."
Whaley said he believes the right number for Johnson is around $18 to $18.5 million for what he called the 12th or 13th best receiver in the NFL.
"You add to the fact that you don't have to pay a quarterback," Whaley said of affording the contract. "You are not paying a franchise quarterback at $35-40 million a year to eat up that cap space. Why not put it into a proven guy that can be a solid number one wide receiver? Then you could address other things with your draft capital or your cap space. I think it's good to get this done."
Through three seasons, Johnson has 254 receptions for 2,764 yards and 20 touchdowns. The 25 year-old from Toledo made his first Pro Bowl in 2021 after 107 receptions for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns.
"If you don't sign this guy now, you are really going to be creating a hole that you are going to try and replenish with draft guys," Whaley told 93.7 The Fan. "You are spinning your wheels, you are not getting better as a team."
"What are you going to do if he's gone? You are going to have to search for that production. You have Diontae Johnson, let's call him a top 15 receiver in this league. You draft a guy and Claypool comes on, now you have a formidable three prong attack in that receiving corps. Instead of not signing him, you are going to create a hole that you are going to have to pour resources in to try to fill."
Whaley told Colin Dunlap and Chris Mack it's all part of roster building. Take advantage of not having that huge quarterback salary and sure up other areas until you find that huge piece.
"You may overpay a little bit, but at least you have somebody you can count on," Whaley said of Johnson's potential deal. "He does have his flaws, but why get rid of something and have to fill it."
New Receiver
Released by the Ravens, the Steelers awarded a waiver claim on receiver Miles Boykin. A third-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Boykin has 33 career receptions for 470 yards and seven touchdowns with the Ravens.
The 6'4", 225-pounder had 77 receptions at Notre Dame averaging 15.7 yards per catch with 11 touchdowns. His senior season, the Illinois native had 59 receptions for 872 yards and eight TDs.
He caught eyes at the NFL Combine in 2019 running a 4.42 40-yard dash with a 43.5' vertical jump. Boykin was thought of then as someone who, if he could fix his inconsistencies, would have a high ceiling.
"They need bodies," Whaley said. "This guy is going to be a big body. He's got some speed. He's a four or five receiver that plays and gives you production on special teams."
"Is he going to be a number two or three? Maybe. That would be a hope, not a plan."
