Back in March, when the Pittsburgh Steelers traded former Pro Bowl Diontae Johnson, for the Carolina Panther’s #2 corner, Donte Jackson, in what was essentially a player-for-player swap, most considered it to be an ok, perhaps erring on the side of a poor value trade for one of the league’s most astute franchises.
Diontae Johnson, whilst not quite the player he was in his breakout 2021 Pro Bowl season, has been a borderline #1, or excellent #2 option in the league for almost half a decade now. Jackson, on the other hand, whilst a very solid corner, has struggled to remain healthy over the course of his 6 years in the NFL, having never managed to play a full season since his inaugural year back in 2018.
Jackson has never been voted to the Pro Bowl or All-Pro teams, some may argue unjustly, and recorded a decent, but not elite 64.3 PFF grade.
Diontae Johnson Traded From The Pittsburgh Steelers Under Uncertain Circumstances
So, the question was, why exactly did the Steelers make such a trade with the Panthers? Especially in an era where receivers are being paid upwards of $35 million despite the influx of talent coming in from the college ranks, and in a time where all signs point to the NFL being a predominantly offensive minded league.
Mike Tomlin initially gave a diplomatic answer to this question when asked back in late March as to the reasoning behind trading one of his top two wideouts, leaving his receiver room somewhat shorthanded.
“It was simple, man. We traded player for player, we had an opportunity to get [Jackson]. D-Jack is a guy that we’ve evaluated probably several times since he’s been in the league – when he came out of LSU, when he faced free agency.
We needed some assistance and depth and quality players at that position and so we made the move. They needed Diontae, we needed D-Jack. It was a good exchange.”
However, whilst Tomlin argues that Pittsburgh simply valued Jackson more as a player, it seems like this may not be the entirety of the truth.
Why Was Diontae Johnson Really Traded?
Reports started initially surfacing in February, a few weeks before the trade, that Diontae Johnson was unlikely to stay with the franchise beyond 2024, with fears of a hold-in over a new contract held by many in the building, given he was going into the final year of his 2 year, $36.7 million deal signed back in 2022.
However, there was little genuine build up or noise that the Steelers were actively shopping the former Toledo wideout until the trade with the Panthers was announced.
Now, it seems like the Pittsburgh Steelers had considered Johnson somewhat of an issue for quite some time, according to insider Ray Fittipaldo.
Fittipaldo claims that question marks over maturity, locker room antics and generally disruptive behaviour & poor effort contributed to the AFC North side determining his fate, per Sirius XM NFL Radio Coverage.
He was still making a lot of youthful mistakes and not always acting his age or what was best for that receivers’ room. You know, before Diontae Johnson, it was Antonio Brown, so it does go back two years… at least they got rid of Johnson, he was a big issue.”
Understanding the past is undoubtedly the best way to ensure that one does not repeat past mistakes; and if the Steelers have learnt anything from the Antonio Brown debacle, it is to not let disruptive players sink their teeth into a franchise and rip it apart.
Whether Johnson continues to be an issue in Carolina alongside new quarterback, former 1st overall pick, Bryce Young, remains to be seen; it is quite possible that a fresh start with a QB that was excellent in college is exactly what he needs.
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