Many believe the Pittsburgh Steelers made the correct option in trading wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers this offseason. Johnson was becoming disgruntled in the locker room, frequently engaging in heated arguments with teammates.
Johnson’s time with Pittsburgh probably ran its course, but the Steelers haven’t replaced his production. They are still without a No. 2 wide receiver. The team thinks someone will naturally step up and fill the void. Wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni even said labeling receivers in a number system is overrated.
Former Buffalo Bills general manager and Steelers executive Doug Whaley believes the Steelers dealt Johnson too soon. He believes the team lacked a suitable Plan B.
“That was one of those where that move backed them into a corner,” Whaley told 93.7 The Fan Wednesday morning. “And it didn’t set them up for the next move.”
Mike Tomlin stated at the NFL owner’s meetings in late March that the team’s desire to improve its cornerback position was the driving reason behind the sale of veteran wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, and Johnson did not expressly request a move. There were indications that Johnson was dissatisfied with the team and wanted to leave.
The Steelers acquired experienced cornerback Dontae Jackson as part of the Johnson deal package with Carolina, which Tomlin saw as an urgent need.
“Really, it was simple, man,” he added. “We traded players. We had the opportunity to get D-Jack (Donte Jackson). D-Jack is a player we’ve probably examined numerous times since he joined the league, including when he graduated from LSU and faced free agency. We needed more depth and quality players in that position, so we made the move. They needed Diontae; we needed D-Jack. It was a positive exchange.
Johnson was also not a fan of Kenny Pickett as a quarterback. He publicly stated after the season that he thought Mason Rudolph will be the starter again. Whaley would have loved to see how the rebuilt quarterback room and new offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, fared under the new system.
“Bring him in during the offseason to see how he adapts and gels with the new quarterbacks and offensive coordinator. Perhaps he turns it around. ‘Now maybe I won’t be such a complainer. “Maybe I’ll be happy, man,” Whaley remarked.
