PITTSBURGH, PA — The Pittsburgh Steelers are sending wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers in a trade as they continue to reshape their roster, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Rumors were circulating all week about the Steelers being open to trading their veteran wide receiver. According to league sources who spoke with All Steelers last week, the team was fielding calls for Johnson and were considering a move but were not actively making phone calls.
Apparently, the right offer came through and the Steelers found a suitor.
Johnson is entering the final year of his contract and set to make $15.8 million this season. He had a $3 million roster bonus due on Friday, making that somewhat of a deadline for a potential move away from Pittsburgh.
The Steelers are now moving forward with George Pickens and Calvin Austin as their two primary receivers on the roster. They’ll likely add a veteran in free agency and a rookie through the NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh did plenty of homework on wideouts at the NFL Combine, meeting with most of the first-round candidates.
In return, the Steelers received cornerback Donte Jackson and a 6th-round pick. Johnson spent five years with the Steelers, catching 391 passes for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns.
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