LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – The biggest name without a contract for next season, Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson put the negotiations in the Steelers court before the first workout of training camp on Wednesday.
"I want to be here long term," Johnson said. "It's up to them."
Johnson said he believes there have been talks between his agent and Steelers GM Omar Khan, but he leaves those details up to them. The fourth-year receiver is in the final year of his rookie deal and has been paying attention to some of the receiver contracts this year including Washington's Terry McLaurin getting $23.2 million with similar stats. There are currently a dozen receivers making over $20 million only two are younger than him.
The former Toledo star is also paying attention to how TJ Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick handled their recent contract situations. He's talked to them and learned from them and discusses it almost daily and often also consults with Cam Heyward.
"I learned you can't take stuff personally because it's business at the end of the day," Johnson said. "That's what I'm learning, slowly. It's just like with anything, stuff gets frustrating. It's how you respond. I'm just going to keep going and worrying about the right things."
He says his preference is to practice full, but he might do what Watt did last year and only practice in individual sessions, not in team activities.
"Taking it a day at a time," Johnson said when asked if he will practice full. "I can't be worried about the wrong stuff because if I worry about that it's going to get in the way of my business on the field. I can only control what I can control and keep praying I get something done. If I don't, I'll keep working."
Known as one of the hardest workers on the team, Johnson admitted he is frustrated he doesn't have a deal done. He also sees what people say about why he should or shouldn't get a new contract. Coming off his first thousand-yard season with 254 catches, 2764 yards and 20 touchdowns in his career, Johnson says he's trying to remain positive and get his information from the people who have been in those situations.
"I feel like I've established myself so far and I'm going to continue to establish myself even more," Johnson said. "That's all I can do is keep getting better."
We'll see if the Steelers meet that price tag over the next month and a half.
