It was April 26, 2019. Diontae Johnson was surrounded by family and friends at an NFL draft party. His nerves were through the roof. He watched as receivers were flying off the board – Marquise Brown, N’Keal Harry, Deebo Samuel…

Johnson was growing more anxious. He was concerned about falling in the draft.

Then his phone rang. On the other end was Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin. “You ready to be a Steeler?” Tomlin asked.

Mock drafts – and there were plenty – projected that Johnson would be a late day three selection. But he said he didn’t let that get to his head. “Coming from a small school, people expected me to go late,” said Johnson. “I wasn’t really worried about that because when I got on the field, I was just going to let my game do the talking because the film speaks for itself. I can play with anybody, or against anybody that steps in front of me.”

Johnson’s film spoke loud and clear to the Steelers organization. He was selected 66th overall – the 10th wide receiver in the draft – the pick Pittsburgh received from the Los Angeles Raiders for Antonio Brown.

“I just started crying,” said Johnson. “Hearing coach [Darryl] Drake’s voice on the phone and coach Tomlin. And then Big Ben talking to me, congratulating me, welcoming me to the family was just crazy.”

It worked out nicely for both parties. Johnson finished the 2019 season as the leader in receptions (59) and touchdowns (5). He was second to James Washington with 680 yards receiving.

Next Man Up

The Steelers lost three main components to their offense – Ben Roethlisberger, James Conner, and JuJu Smith-Schuster – which forced the rookie into a more prominent role earlier than expected.

But Johnson didn’t mind one bit. It’s something he’s wanted all of his life.

“One guy goes down, and it’s next man up mentality for me,” said Johnson. “I felt like I had to just step up and make plays; show the coaches that I’m reliable, and they can count on me to catch the ball in those got-to-have-it-down situations.”

Johnson knows the depth chart isn’t static and, when the season starts, he has his eye on the prize. “Although JuJu’s receiver number one, I’m trying to work my way up there to be receiver number one as well, so… that’s just the competitiveness that’s in me.”

MAC the Knife

The Steelers punted 29 times last season, and Johnson was on the receiving end of 20. Harkening back to his Toledo days when he was twice named first-team All-MAC as a punt returner and 2018 MAC Special Teams Player of the Year, Johnson racked up 285 return yards for the black and gold.

In Week 14, Johnson returned a punt for an 85-yard touchdown and earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He was later named All-Pro Second Team as a punt return specialist.

Those Who Came Before Him

Johnson had a few guys he watched a lot of during his years before going pro. As a kid growing up, it was Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiver/return specialist, Dante Hall. Once he got to the University of Toledo, he looked up to Stefon Diggs and Jarvis Landry, who are now guys he calls friends.

“[Diggs and Landry are] both my favorite receivers,” Johnson said. “And I know them now. It’s crazy. So, I keep in contact with both of them, try to pick their brains and see what I can add to my game.”

Another brain he’s been picking is Antonio Brown. Johnson has spent time this offseason training with Brown and honing his craft.

The two met through Johnson’s former Toledo teammate and Steelers linebacker, Ola Adeniyi. “A.B. and me are real good friends,” Johnson said. “I work out with him when I’m down [in Florida]. We did some balance drills, core stuff, a lot of ball drills. We make sure we stay in shape. Just trying to focus on the core a lot because you need the core to play receiver. We did a lot of releases with DBs, too.”

Johnson has also been connecting with his quarterback. Though this offseason is unprecedented as it relates to team-building activities, Johnson and Roethlisberger have been doing what they can. “We’ve been talking more,” he said. “He’s been hitting me up, checking on me, seeing how I’ve been doing.”

‘We Got a Big Year’

Johnson is looking forward to having the crew back together this season. Even though he’s only in his second year, Johnson is aware of just how magical the Steelers can be when they’re clicking on all cylinders.

Johnson and Roethlisberger had very little time together on-field in 2019. He was targeted just six times in the six quarters Roethlisberger played. So, Johnson knows just how critical it is to get chemistry working.

“I’m going to go out there and keep taking those big steps, and, hopefully, I’ll be a reliable target for Ben,” said Johnson.

“Big Ben is just different,” he continued. “He knows how to throw the ball, turn it ways that other people can’t. He’s been helping take my game to another level. And I’m going to help him take his game to another level as well.”

Johnson knows with everyone healthy, the sky is the limit. “We got a big year,” said Johnson. “Our whole receiving corps, anybody can make plays. That’s just how good our receiving group is. I feel like we got the best receiving group in the league.”

It’s nearly impossible to forecast which two teams will make it to the end this early in the offseason. A native of Ruskin, Fla., 30 minutes south of the home of the 2020 Super Bowl, Johnson has the Super Bowl in his sights. “I want us to win a Super Bowl back home in Tampa.”

Among his other lofty but attainable goals for the season are to be a Pro Bowl receiver and have at least 100 catches for 1,000 yards.

Johnson had big shoes to fill when he came into Pittsburgh. Judging from his rookie season, it looks like he grew out of them.

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