Steelers 2-a-days: Diontae Johnson contract saga drags on, Tyree Johnson a rookie OLB option
Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2022 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly-alphabetical order, two per day, between June 11 and July 25. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.
WR DIONTAE JOHNSON
Experience: 4th season
Contract status: $3.073 million cap hit in 2022, after which scheduled for unrestricted free agency
2022 outlook: Particularly now that Minkah Fitzpatrick’s extension is done, the saga of Diontae Johnson will ascend to the top of the list when it comes to contract drama during Steelers camp. Johnson put up some of the best production in the NFL as a receiver last season: 107 catches for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns in 16 games. That earned him his first Pro Bowl berth — but it was only as an alternate. Is that enough for Johnson to command a contract with an average annual value approaching $20 million and guarantees in the neighborhood of Fitzpatrick’s $36 million?
Judging by the number of times he’s targeted, Johnson unquestionably is the Steelers’ No. 1 receiver. Will Mitch Trubisky (or whoever starts at quarterback) favor him as much as Ben Roethlisberger has? Will Chase Claypool or, perhaps, second-round pick George Pickens show they can be a No. 1 WR? By the time the Steelers could find out, it might be too late: if Johnson isn’t signed by the start of the regular season, he’ll probably want to test the market in March and another team might offer too much.
Steelers WR Diontae Johnson 'ready to work' as he awaits potential contract extension https://t.co/6vukurKnlF
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) June 7, 2022
OLB TYREE JOHNSON
Experience: Rookie
Contract status: $705,000 cap hit in 2022, signed through 2024
2022 outlook: Signed as a free agent immediately after the draft ended this spring, Tyree Johnson was the fourth Texas A&M rookie the Steelers acquired over the past two seasons. Johnson had 8½ sacks as a senior last season, including two in the Aggies’ upset of then-No. 2 Alabama. He had 18 sacks in 47 career games and was projected as a sixth-round pick by the NFL’s official website (NFL.com called Johnson an “explosive edge talent”).
Of course, that came with the caveat of questions about his play in run defense and in dropping into coverage. But beyond possible future Hall of Famer T.J. Watt and adequate starter Alex Highsmith, the Steelers’ edge rushers group isn’t overly inspiring. If Johnson shows ability on special teams it isn’t inconceivable he could challenge for a roster spot.
Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.
Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.