Steelers A to Z: Brandon Johnson a darkhorse candidate for role as WR3

Editor’s note: From now until reporting day to training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2025 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 12 and July 23. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

WR BRANDON JOHNSON

Experience/age: 23 regular-season games over the past three seasons, turns 27 next month

Contract status: $1.1 million cap hit if he makes the team in 2025, after which will be a free agent

The past: After five seasons (2016-2020) at the University of Tennessee, Johnson transferred to UCF for one final college year and had career highs in catches (38), receiving yards (565) and – most notably – touchdowns (11). That was second-most in the American Athletic Conference. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos, opened some eyes during training camp and had four catches for 64 yards in his pro preseason debut. But an ankle injury suffered at the end of the preseason thwarted Johnson’s chances of making Denver’s initial 53-man roster. After he proved healthy, though, Johnson joined the Broncos practice squad and ultimately made the active roster for seven of the final eight games of his rookie season. With Russell Wilson as his quarterback, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Johnson had six catches for 42 yards and a touchdown in 2022.

The next season – again catching passes from Wilson – Johnson in 13 games had 19 receptions for 284 yards (a sterling 14.9-yard average) and again showed his nose for the end zone with four touchdowns. But he did not make the initial 53-man roster at the start of the following season, and the Steelers quickly added him to their practice squad. He spent all of last season on it.

Russ to Brandon Johnson for the @Broncos TD!

????: #DENvsCHI on CBS
????: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Jq9JHUeqb6 pic.twitter.com/ULYDqsOaZI

— NFL (@NFL) October 1, 2023

2025 outlook: Elevated to the active roster for three games in October, Johnson had a 9-yard reception among the 19 offensive snaps he played. Johnson perhaps was as high as fourth of the team’s WR depth chart – but he did not play special teams, so the Steelers dressed other receivers instead in 2024. The Steelers did keep him on via a reserve/future deal in January.

After the trade of George Pickens in May, the Steelers — for the second year in a row — are looking for a quality WR2 and increased depth in their wide receivers corps. Though he is an extreme longshot to end up the No. 2 receiver, the organization is a fan of Johnson’s. Do not rule out him making the team. Some of it might hinge on if the Steelers yet make an outside veteran acquisition at the position. Johnson showing some worth on special teams would greatly help his cause, too. But after DK Metcalf, and Calvin Austin III there are no slam dunks at WR for the Steelers. Robert Woods and Roman Wilson will make the team, but it’s at least possible Johnson noses his way in there.