Source: Steelers agree to trade WR Diontae Johnson to Carolina, receive CB Donte Jackson
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Due a $3 million roster bonus Friday, Diontae Johnson will collect that cash, but not from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On Tuesday, the eve of the start of NFL free agency, the Steelers are trading Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, a league source confirmed to TribLive. ESPN first reported the trade.
The Steelers are sending Johnson, their most tenured wide receiver, and a seventh-round draft pick to Carolina and will receive cornerback Donte Jackson and a sixth-round choice in return.
Johnson was entering the final year of his contract and carried a $15.8 million salary cap hit. In addition to his $3 million roster bonus, the Steelers won’t pay his $10 million salary.
Johnson penned his farewell to the Steelers and Pittsburgh in an Instagram post:
“Pittsburgh it’s been real! 5 years ago you brought me in and treated me like family from day one,” he wrote. “I will always be grateful for the memories made and relationships I will forever cherish. To my teammates, coaches, staff, and the fans who were there through the good and bad.. thank you for allowing me to grow into the man I am today. 18 out.”
Any savings could be offset by Jackson’s contract. Like Johnson, the Steelers’ newest cornerback is due a roster bonus this weekend, one that amounts to $4 million. He is entering the final year of a three-year, $35.18 million contract he signed after his rookie deal expired, and unless the Steelers restructure the contract, he will count $10 million against the salary cap this season.
Johnson is coming off a season in which he was limited to 51 catches and 717 yards as he battled a hamstring injury early in the year that led to a stint on injured reserve. Although he had a career-best 14.1 yards per catch last season, Johnson became the Steelers’ secondary receiving threat behind George Pickens and was unhappy with his role in the offense.
Johnson was criticized for not reacting and giving effort on a fumble in a game at Cincinnati in November. The previous week in Cleveland he got into a heated argument with safety Minkah Fitzpatrick after the game. During that contest, he displayed frustration on the sideline in an animated conversation with coach Mike Tomlin.
A year after being held without a touchdown catch, Johnson responded with five in 2023. In five seasons with the Steelers, he totaled 391 receptions for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Johnson’s departure leaves Pickens, who is entering his third season, as the most experienced wide receiver on the roster. The only other receiver is Calvin Austin, who is entering his second full season.
The Steelers previously released veteran Allen Robinson, and Miles Boykin, who is primarily a special teams player, also is a free agent.
Jackson, a former second-round pick out of LSU, started 16 games for the Panthers last season after being limited to nine games because of an Achilles injury in 2022.
A six-year vet, Jackson has started 76 times out of 80 appearances with the Panthers. He has 14 interceptions for his career but did not have a pick last season.
Jackson could be plugged in to start opposite second-year cornerback Joey Porter Jr. The Steelers released veteran Patrick Peterson last week, and veteran Levi Wallace also is due to hit free agency.