Traded to the Carolina Panthers this offseason, wide receiver Diontae Johnson is ready. Now the WR1 for a young team led by second-year quarterback Bryce Young, he looks to show the league why he deserves a solid payday of his own.
We’ve seen like Justin Jefferson, A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and others get big contracts. Though Johnson may not be of the same caliber as them, he has a chance this upcoming season to get the money he’s been searching for.
Rough Ending In Pittsburgh
Drafted in the third round in the 2019 NFL Draft, Johnson began his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had a solid rookie season, catching 59 balls for 680 yards and five touchdowns on his way to making the All-Pro Second Team.
His best season was in 2021, as the 1X Pro Bowler had a career-high 107 receptions for 1,167 yards and eight touchdowns.
Unfortunately, the wideout has failed to replicate that outstanding season in the past two years. 2022 saw him record 86 receptions and 882 yards. But, he had zero touchdowns. Nada.
Finally, he got in the end zone in 2023, catching a touchdown in week nine against the Tennessee Titans. But, he did miss four games due to injury last season. He finished the year with 51 catches, 717 yards, and five touchdowns.
Diontae Johnson pic.twitter.com/dXQupPKs37
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) June 11, 2024
There was another potential reason behind Johnson’s struggles as of late. Reports have talked about the wideout and his wanting out from Pittsburgh for a while.
“That’s why they traded Diontae Johnson. He was an older guy, but he was still making a lot of youthful mistakes and not always acting his age or what was best for that receiver room,”
Insider Ray Fittipaldo on the trade that send Johnson to Carolina
Becoming an issue in the locker room, the team had no issues trading their top wideout away, especially as they look to groom George Pickens to be their WR1 of the future.
A Fresh Start
Now, Johnson had a new home. The Panthers’ wide receiver corps got younger with the addition of rookie Xavier Legette along with young holdovers like Jonathan Mingo and Terrence Marshall Jr.
With that said Johnson looks to be a veteran presence and a dependable weapon for quarterback Bryce Young to trust. The former Alabama product struggled mightily last year, partly because of the lack of playmakers on the outside.
There’s no doubt Diontae Johnson will enter training camp as the WR1. It’s a matter of if he can replicate his 2021 season and possibly be even better. If Johnson steps up to the challenge and helps the Panthers compete in the NFC, then a payday could be on the way. With 2024 being the final year of his rookie contract, expect the best from the former Toledo product.
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Featured Image: Around the NFL/X
