Steelers sign WR Diontae Johnson, acquired with pick in Antonio Brown trade

Chris Adamski
Wednesday, May 8, 2019 10:20 a.m. | Wednesday, May 8, 2019 10:20 a.m.

Toledo wide receiver Diontae Johnson runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 2, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed the player taken with a pick acquired in the trade of Antonio Brown whose game has been compared to Brown and who will be tasked to help replace Brown.

The Steelers announced Wednesday that it had signed third-round wide receiver Diontae Johnson to a four-year contract. Terms were not disclosed, but the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement created a virtual slotting system in which draft picks are signed to preterdermined four-year rookie contracts.

We have signed third-round pick Diontae Johnson to a four-year deal.@BordasLaw TRANSACTION: https://t.co/eqS8Y9nWol pic.twitter.com/HcoVstx9nB

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 8, 2019

Johnson was taken with the 66^th overall pick from Toledo. Last year’s No. 66 pick, Lorenzo Carter, signed a four-year, $4.083 million deal with the New York Giants (per Spotrac.com).

At 5-10, 183 pounds, Johnson is virtually the same size as Brown, another former Mid-American Conference standout who became a perennial All Pro for the Steelers until he asked for a trade in January. The Steelers dealt him to the Oakland Raiders for third- and fifth-round picks.

.@Juiceup__3 was a late bloomer who became a two-time all-conference selection as a wide receiver and return specialist, @tribjoerutter writes.

“We believe that this kid is just a natural football talent,” #Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said.https://t.co/HKavzKHHjW

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) May 6, 2019

Johnson was all-MAC as a receiver and punt returner, and was the conference’s special teams player of the year. He is expected to jockey with James Washington, Donte Moncrief, Ryan Switzer, Eli Rogers and others for secondary roles behind Steelers expected No. 1 receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.

The Steelers have signed three of their nine draft picks. Rookie mini-camp will be held this weekend (players do not need to be signed to participate).

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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.