Yesterday saw another high-profile wideout from the 2019 class sign a massive extension, turning attention even further to Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson. He could be the next in line to secure a new contract, and knowing that, he has mostly been a spectator so far at training camp. 
Mark Kaboly of The Athletic notes that the former third-rounder has been essentially ‘holding-in’ since his arrival at camp (subscription required). The reason for doing so, of course, is the fact that he has one year remaining on his rookie contract and is aiming for a significant raise on a multi-year pact.
The WR market has erupted this offseason, with $20MM-per-season deals becoming the new benchmark at the position, especially for players in their prime. At 25, Johnson has been expected to land a contract similar to those signed by D.J. Moore (three years, $61.884MM) and Mike Williams (three years, $60MM) in recent months, which would rank him below 2019 classmates A.J. Brown, DK Metcalf and Terry McLaurin.
However, it was reported earlier this month that the Steelers – whose top remaining priority is establishing Johnson’s financial future, having already done so with safety Minkah Fitzpatrick – are not expected to offer the 25-year-old an extension averaging $20MM-per-annum. That has left both parties in their current situation, and fuelled speculation that the 2022 campaign will be Johnson’s last in Pittsburgh.
Kaboly adds that Johnson “does want to remain a Steeler,” but also that the player is “unsure” at this point if contract talks are ongoing. The Steelers rank towards the top of the league in terms cap space both this year and, more importantly, next. Johnson is in line to once again operate as Pittsburgh’s top pass-catcher, though the franchise has a history of letting wideouts leave in free agency when signing their second contracts, and added George Pickens and Calvin Austin III in this year’s draft.
Another season of increased production would give Johnson consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns and boost his free agent value. Whether or not he will be on the field in the build-up to the season, and where he will be playing in 2023, though, remain very much in question at this point.
If there are rules in place to harshly penalize holding out, the same should apply to “holding in.” It’s BS to show up at the facility but to refuse to practice. I’m sure there’s still a penalty for doing that, but it should be just as unpalatable as holding out. If the player is unhappy with the status of negotiations, he should formally request a trade pressuring the team to extend him or trade him, but he should still honor the contract he signed.
Given how things shook out with Metcalf, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of these hold-ins are mutual understandings between players and teams, knowing that they’re trying to work out a contract imminently.
This. I’m sure teams aren’t thrilled about it, but at least they are there and around the team and watching.
I’m pretty sure they could fine them if they wanted for being cleared to practice and not, but how is that productive to negotiation talks? In my mind thats only a card you play if you know you aren’t getting a deal worked out now OR next offseason
the difference here seems to be the Steelers lack of interest in signing Dionte.
and in fact the only thing that could convince them to extend him, would be the opposite of what he’s doing now.
Metcalf and others have already proven their worth… Dionte needs a breakout season to prove he’s not just another guy with wheels.
I don’t disagree. I think they would love to resign him at $15M/yr but that simply isn’t going to happen given what someone will pay him next year.
So…fine him to try to get him to participate? I just don’t really see the need. By sitting out he is hedging risk of serious injury but adding risk of soft-tissue injury and a slow start. If that’s what he feels the need to do then I don’t know my you’d disgruntle him more.
As Tomlin says, ultimately they “want volunteers, not hostages”. If he doesn’t want the reps, they have a glut of receivers that do as they decide who to keep behind him and Claypool.
This might seem insipid, but I just wanna say that the dialogue in this thread is one of the best I’ve seen on this site. The discussion is informative, respectful, articulate, and knowledgeable. I have really enjoyed reading the comments of everybody here.
I think they’d trade him long before they’d fine him.
steelers still might trade him, and it’d be a major blow to the 2022 offense.
Trade him for a second rounder in 2023 and a third in 2024.
I’d do this in a NY minute. They aren’t getting a deal worked out and they will miss the playoffs with him as easy as they do without him.
Even if they squeak in as a WC, I’d love for someone to lay a compelling argument of how they are a serious contender with their OL & new QBs. And thats not even mentioning their lack of a shutdown corner or depth concerns at OLB…
I’d deal him for that package, because with them actually being buyers in FA post-Ben, a comp pick isn’t even a guarentee.
I would be fine with that trade. Unfortunately, it remains to be seen if anyone will offer us that. There isn’t exactly a huge demand for wideouts rn and I can’t see any franchise that would be more willing to sign Johnson to an extension that appeases both sides. Thus, your market is essentially limited to win-now teams looking for an immediate spark. Green Bay and Tennessee come to mind
You’re also not wrong. Props to the Ravens for striking while the iron was hot in a similar situation.
They certainly can’t draft receivers, but they are always good at maximizing value of guys not in their future plans.
I disagree.. i think keeping dionte for the season is the difference between having a chance at playoffs and not.
while he can be replaced by Pickens and future picks down the road, Dionte is going to be a target machine underneath for the 2022 offense
If we’re that fringe of a playoff contender to begin with, we’re clearly not going anywhere. The worst mistake you can make is sacrificing the future for present mediocrity
the worst thing you can do is create a losing culture
That doesn’t mean hang onto players in their contract years when you don’t have a shot at winning in a stacked AFC.
We can draft receivers without thinking about it and it doesn’t look as though the organization is going to acquiesce to an extension that satisfies Johnson anytime soon. Why not improve the future of our franchise?
You also had Ben throwing to these receivers. Who knows who’s at qb and how the receivers fare. Play to win
Johnson alone isn’t going to cause the pendulum to swing one way or another on that.
Granted, if they were going to do it I DO think they should have done it during the draft or at least before camp. BUT with WR contracts continuing to exceed 20M for “his tier” and approaching $25M…It would be hard to fault them for striking if the iron is still hot if the return is good.
Time and time again, you guys use Mark Kaboly from the athletic as a reference.
Multiple times just this year hes been agregiously off on his reporting.
The most recent one I remember is he reported the Steelers were NOT looking to bring a FA Dlinemen. Very next day(like 12 hours later) they bring the guy who failed a physical with the Bears in, that same day they sign him to a contract.
There’s been multiple examples like this one.
The guy is a BUM. He does poor reporting.
Please consider not using him anymore.
Yeah, who can forget Kaboly reporting that the Steelers weren’t interested in signing a D-lineman from another team, and then they signed Ogunjobi not even two days later?
Sheesh
That said, the Steelers have had so many great wide receivers over the years. This guy hasn’t proven he’s one of them yet
Does he have Lev Bell’s agent?
The Steelers are TOO good at drafting WR to sign one to a big money extension unless they are a star.
Johnson’s focus should be forming chemistry with Trubisky and Pickett so he can have a good year and then get paid.
Holding “in” is not making him money. It will not get him the contract he wants. BUT having a bad year will see that he never gets that contract.
Receivers are disposable. Draft them, play them, let them walk, draft again.
Turn out the lights, the party’s over…