Are the Steelers speaking to WR Diontae Johnson about signing an extension?
As a result of that appears to be the factor basic supervisor Omar Khan struggled to not say. Addressing a dialog about Johnson, he started to say “we’re having conversations”. He didn’t end the thought, nonetheless, catching himself midstream. Then he mentioned that he wouldn’t touch upon particular negotiations.
A 2019 third-round draft choose, Johnson is the one large receiver the Steelers signed to a second contract since Antonio Brown. He agreed to a two-year, $36,710,000 extension in 2022, which runs via the 2024 season. If the Steelers don’t signal him to an extension now, he’s free to succeed in free company in 2015.
In fact, many followers need that to occur. Fairly, many followers really need the Steelers to commerce Johnson now and get what they’ll. That’s not going to occur, and Khan could have made that even clearer. It’s fairly attainable he stopped himself from saying they’re in talks in regards to the framework of an extension.
Even when they’re, that doesn’t imply a deal is imminent. Khan additionally mentioned that these extension talks are inclined to happen late within the offseason, which is true sufficient. Johnson signed his extension on August 4, for instance, already into coaching camp. The Steelers are like most groups. They speak extensions in the summertime.
One other caveat right here is an apparent level. Talks don’t imply a accomplished deal. All which means is the 2 sides agree in precept to the hypothetical of constant to work collectively. They’ll speak all they need but it surely quantities to nothing and not using a signed contract for Johnson.
And the Steelers nonetheless have all of free company and the draft to fret about in between. They didn’t even signal Minkah Fitzpatrick to an extension till after the draft. Most groups do only a few extension offers at the moment of the yr, as Johnson is aware of. They need to wait and see what the room appears like first, amongst different causes.
Nonetheless, the trace that they might have these conversations is important. I think about many assumed the Steelers have been getting ready to maneuver on from Diontae Johnson after this season. He could very nicely nonetheless stroll after this season, however maybe not for an absence of effort on Pittsburgh’s half.
The Steelers’ 2023 season has been put out of its distress, ending as so many have earlier than lately: a disappointing, blowout playoff loss. The one change-up recently is once they miss the playoffs altogether. However with the Buffalo Payments stamping them out within the Wildcard Spherical, they’ve one other lengthy offseason forward.
The most important query hanging over the crew is the quarterback query. Is Kenny Pickett the man? Will he get one other season’s reprieve and not using a severe problem? How will the crew tackle the depth chart? Do they re-sign Mason Rudolph, one in every of few vital unrestricted free brokers?
The Steelers are swirling with extra questions this offseason than typical, frankly, although the key free agent checklist is much less substantial than typical. It’s only a matter of…what occurs subsequent? The place do they go from right here? How do they discover the way in which ahead?
