The Pittsburgh Steelers could really use an upgrade at wide receiver before the NFL trade deadline. The Carolina Panthers, being in a position to sell, have a wideout who’s been averaging 6 catches, 76.5 yards, and 3 touchdowns over the past four games. That player? Diontae Johnson.
This situation is intriguing because the Steelers traded Johnson to the Panthers in March after a difficult final season in Pittsburgh. Despite this, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox named the Steelers as a potential suitor to reacquire Johnson in an article on October 16.
“The Steelers might want to try reacquiring Johnson, whom they traded to Carolina for cornerback Donte Jackson in the offseason,” wrote Knox. “According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Steelers had a ‘strong interest’ in Adams, who is now off the table.”
Last season, Johnson recorded 51 catches for 717 yards and 5 touchdowns in 13 games with Pittsburgh. Across five seasons with the Steelers, he totaled 391 receptions, 4,363 yards, and 25 touchdowns.
In 2024, through six weeks, he’s on pace for more than 80 catches, 950 receiving yards, and a career-high in touchdowns.
Knox suggested that Johnson would be “at worst” a “quality second target” for another NFL team.
Could the Steelers Realistically Target Diontae Johnson in a Trade?
It would certainly be unusual for the Steelers to reacquire Johnson just seven months after trading him to the Panthers for cornerback Donte Jackson.
The move was widely criticized at the time, but Jackson has performed well for Pittsburgh, leading the team with 6 pass defenses and 3 interceptions.
Since the Panthers benched rookie quarterback Bryce Young for veteran Andy Dalton, Johnson has thrived, posting over 75 yards and scoring a touchdown in three of the last four games.
With Carolina sitting at 1-5 and falling out of contention in the NFC South, it’s possible the Steelers could offer a draft pick to bring Johnson back. Just on October 16, two trades involving veteran receivers occurred.
Steelers Urged to Target Former Top 10 WR Before Trade Deadline
The New York Jets traded a conditional third-round pick for Davante Adams, while the Buffalo Bills acquired Amari Cooper and a conditional sixth-rounder for a third-round pick and a future seventh-round selection.
Given that Johnson, like Cooper, is set to become a free agent in March, the Steelers might expect to give up a similar package—a mid-round pick with a late-round draft swap—to bring Johnson back for the rest of the season. His production could potentially bolster their passing game and help the team compete for the AFC North title.
Why the Steelers Are Unlikely to Trade for Diontae Johnson
On paper, reacquiring Johnson seems logical, but the situation in reality is more complicated.
Johnson had a contentious time in Pittsburgh, especially in his final months. He frequently drew criticism for his attitude after losses, and he was involved in multiple locker-room issues. In November of last season, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported a “heated post-game locker-room argument” between Johnson and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The confrontation became so intense that veterans Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt had to intervene.
Johnson also faced backlash for not attempting to recover a fumble in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Despite these controversies, the Steelers didn’t trade Johnson because of these issues. Steelers insider Mark Kaboly reported that Johnson “100 percent” wanted out of Pittsburgh. Heading into a contract year, Johnson was either seeking a new deal or a team where he could post strong numbers to enhance his 2025 free agency value, according to Kaboly.
Ironically, he ended up with one of the league’s worst teams. Given these factors, Johnson might be as reluctant to return to Pittsburgh as the Steelers could be to trade for him.
The Steelers’ passing game hasn’t improved much since Johnson left, and unless he sees himself as the solution, Pittsburgh may not be the best place for him to maximize his free agency value.
However, Carolina may not be the ideal place for him either, and at least in Pittsburgh, Johnson would have a chance to compete for wins.
