Earlier on Tuesday, Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan comment that the group’s main office wants all-star receiver Diontae Johnson to stay with the organization “for a long time.”
Johnson is in his last year as a rookie contract and not fully engaged in activities because he wants to secure a long-term extension, perhaps similar to the transactions recently signed by DK Metcalf of the Seattle Seahawks and Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers. Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN (h/t Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk), Brad Cicala, Johnson’s agent, attended a campground in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the parties are close to putting pen to paper on an agreement.
Williams notes that Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said the Steelers and Johnson’s camps are so far apart that “the plausibility of doing a deal before the September 11 season opening date in Cincinnati is slim.” It is expected that the Steelers will not negotiate with Johnson after they begin the regular season at team rivals Cincinnati Bengals next month as per team policy.
The exact financial guarantees Johnson is looking for this summer come as his first Pro Bowl season is unclear. He ended the 2021 campaign as team leader with 107 catches for 1,161 yards receiving the ball and 8 touchdowns.
Receiver prepared by Steelers George Pickens and Calvin Austin III This spring and so Johnson could theoretically be ready to offer to buyers who would be pre-season buyers.
