Diontae Johnson: The Gift That Keeps On Giving

I root for teams that are well run. What I can’t support is dysfunction. Say whatever you want about Mike Tomlin and the Steelers. Pittsburgh knows how to develop running back and wide receiver talent. Diontae Johnson looks like a star in the making and follows a long line of successful draft picks at the WR position.

What many have forgotten is the back story to how Johnson became a Steeler. When the Steelers needed to move on from Antonio Brown, it was a miracle they got anything. Brown lost his mind. Of course, they found a taker in the desperate Raiders. We know now how the Antonio Brown saga ended with the Raiders.

The Brown trade was terrible for the Raiders from the start. But the organization has a history of bad trades—case in point Amari Cooper for a first-round pick. Las Vegas turned around and gave up two mid-round choices for an older version of Cooper (Brown). A trade that never made sense.

Pittsburgh never needed Antonio Brown. They wanted the draft capital to replace him (which is what the Raiders provided). Using a draft pick aquired from Las Vegas (then Oakland), the Steelers were able to select Johnson in the third round of the 2019 draft. Pittsburgh can confidently say they have another star. Thanks, Raiders!

If you picked a wide receiver in the 2019 NFL Draft, you most likely didn’t miss on the selection, unless your name is Howie Roseman or Bill Belichick. Neither of them knows how to draft, because that draft featured DK Metcalf, AJ Brown, and Deebo Samuel, with Johnson getting lost in the shuffle. Please make no mistake about it; Johnson is a home run.

Through Pittsburgh’s first two games of the 2020 season, Johnson leads the Steelers in targets (23) and yards (149). With the return of Ben Roethlisberger, Johnson has made another leap in year two. More so than anything, Johnson has been a constant chain mover collecting nine first downs.

Johnson does two things well. The former Toledo product is a crafty route runner, and he creates yards after the catch breaking 18 tackles a year ago. Johnson has become so good in the open field and took a punt back to the house in Week 2. Albeit, it was called back but still. Johnson is explosive in the open field.

The Steelers found another gem at the wide receiver position. Johnson is so good nobody would be shocked if he outproduced JuJu Smith-Schuster. Thus far, that’s what he’s doing. Diontae Johnson is the gift that keeps on giving. Thanks, Raiders!

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