The Pittsburgh Steelers don’t seem like they will make it a priority to sign JuJu Smith-Schuster to a new contract any time soon.
From Emmanuel Sanders to Mike Wallace, the Steelers have a history of letting go of top wide receiver talent. I didn’t lump Antonio Brown in there for obvious reasons.
JuJu Smith-Schuster is in the final year of his contract, which begs the question of whether the Steelers will re-sign him or let him hit the free-agent market.
Multiple injuries and the loss of Ben Roethlisberger affected Smith-Schuster’s chances to produce as he did his first two seasons. With 2020 being a contract year, it’s expected that the receiver will return to form.
If the Steelers select a WR in this year’s draft and/or James Washington or Diontae Johnson have breakout seasons, it’ll be that much easier for the Steelers to bid adieu to Smith-Schuster.
Because of Smith-Schuster’s 2019 numbers, he doesn’t have much leverage to negotiate this offseason, and the Steelers have shown they don’t negotiate during the regular season. Smith-Schuster’s future with the Steelers will likely hang in the balance until the spring of 2021.
I would like to see the Steelers keep Smith-Schuster around, but if he has a career season in 2020, the price tag may be a bit too rich for the Steelers’ blood.
In an exclusive Steelers Wire interview, Pittsburgh Steelers’ wide receiver talks about being drafted and what’s to come in 2020.
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.
Dec 8, 2019; Glendale, AZ, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) returns a punt 85 yards for a touchdown during the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY
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.
The Pittsburgh Steelers need more consistency from their receivers in 2020.
Following the whole Antonio Brown charade that was the 2019 offseason, it was presumed that JuJu Smith-Schuster would flourish in the featured receiver role.
Afterall, Smith-Schuster led the team in receiving yards in 2018 with 1,426 to Brown’s 1,297. The transition would be smooth, right?
In a perfect world, probably.
In six quarters with Ben Roethlisberger at the helm, Smith-Schuster caught 11 of 16 targets for 162 yards. He was on pace for a 1,280-yard season.
Then Roethlisberger went down for the season, and the Mason Rudolph-Devlin Hodges carousel began — a less than ideal scenario for Smith-Schuster to excel.
The receiver suffered what would ultimately be a season-ending knee injury in Week 12 with 552 yards and three touchdowns to his name.
Will he bounce back in 2020 and lead the corps in receptions, or will it be another wideout?
Last season, one of the lone bright spots on offense for the Pittsburgh Steelers was the play of then-rookie wide receiver Diontae Johnson. The team’s third-round pick in 2019, Johnson came in and after a slow start became the Steelers most explosive and reliable receiving option. Johnson finished the season with 59 receptions, 680 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.
But this wasn’t enough for ESPN to include Johnson among their candidates as a sophomore superstar. Taking nothing about from any of those five players. They all had great rookie seasons. But when you consider the quarterback situation in Pittsburgh last season, what Johnson did was far more impressive. If you are looking for a receiver to break out in 2020, Johnson with a healthy Ben Roethlisberger under center is a great bet.
Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson is a free agent. Are the Pittsburgh Steelers interested?
New York Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson is on the free-agent market. Some say the Steelers need a more reliable WR.
The fifth-year pro out of Temple has put up some WR2 numbers in his career — all without stellar quarterback play.
Anderson has compiled 3,059 yards on 207 receptions and 20 touchdowns. His career-high came in 2017 when he had 941 receiving and seven TDs with Josh McCown at QB. Imagine what he could do with QB Ben Roethlisberger throwing him the rock.
Anderson is the kind of deep-threat option that the Steelers are looking for. According to Pro Football Focus, he was on the receiving end of 23 explosive pass plays (15+ yards) in 2019.
The problem isn’t with his production, but his price tag. Anderson is reportedly seeking north of $10 million. To put that in perspective, his desired salary is right around the neighborhood of Indianapolis Colts’ Devin Funchess, Miami Dolphins’ DeVante Parker, and New York Giants’ Sterling Shepard.
With a wealth of talent at the WR position in this year’s draft, the Steelers would rather risk/reward going with a rookie than pay Anderson — especially with JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson at the head of the WR line in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson has been training with former Steelers great Antonio Brown.
Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson has been getting some work in with former Steelers/Patriots/Raiders WR Antonio Brown recently.
This afternoon, Brown posted an Instagram story featuring several young athletes training at Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Johnson, who resides in Tampa, was pictured in the social media post behind Brown.
Screenshot courtesy of Antonio Brown’s Instagram page
Jordan McCloud (not pictured) is a sophomore quarterback from the University of South Florida who has also been working out with Brown and Johnson.
It should come as no surprise that Johnson is training with Brown. The two are similar in stature — Brown, 5-10, 186 lbs. and Johnson, 5-11, 183 lbs. — and the WR emulates Brown’s playing style.
In Johnson’s first season, he had a rookie-best 59 catches. He was the Steelers’ leading receiver with 680 yards and five touchdowns — an impressive rookie season, especially considering the offense was in shambles.
If training with Brown helps Johnson improve upon those numbers this season, the Steelers are all the better for it.
During Laviska Shenault, Jr.’s three seasons with the Colorado Buffalos, he accumulated 1,943 yards on 149 receptions and 10 touchdowns. He also ran for 280 yards and added another seven touchdowns on the ground. On special teams, he returned a punt 55 yards for a score as a freshman and a kick 54 yards for a score.
Those numbers lead many to believe that Shenault is the most versatile receiver in the 2020 draft. Early mock drafts projected Shenault to go in the first round. Due to durability issues and questionable production, however, his stock may fall. It’s inevitable that players get injured – it can happen to any player at any time. Were the receiver’s modest collegiate stats could be due to the lack of a playmaker at QB? Should Shenault land with a team with a pass-heavy offense, we’ll get our answer.
Shenault possesses key attributes of a successful receiver – speed, explosiveness, and physicality. The areas that need to be developed – route-running, ball-tracking, and blocking – can be honed through experience and proper coaching at the pro level.
It’s no secret that the Steelers love to draft receivers. Since taking over as general manager in 2000, Kevin Colbert has selected 22 receivers – only 2003, 2004 and 2011 were receiver-less drafts.
The Steelers have depth at the position; however, with JuJu Smith-Schuster set to become a free agent in 2021 and inconsistent film from Dionte Johnson and James Washington, Pittsburgh may want to snag the top-rated Shenault with its first pick (49th).
Tamaurice “Tee” Higgins, a projected first-round wide receiver, graduated Tennessee’s Oak Ridge High School as a five-star recruit. He initially committed to the University of Tennessee before changing to Clemson University.
Higgins appeared in seven games his freshman year and entered his sophomore season as a starter. Following a spectacular performance in his junior year, Higgins announced he would forgo his final year of eligibility and declared for the 2020 NFL Draft.
In 30 starts (43 games) at Clemson, Higgins compiled 2,448 yards on 135 receptions. He scored a touchdown on 20 percent of his catches at Clemson, which resulted in being tied for the most receiving touchdowns in school history (27) with NFL stars DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins. Higgins left Clemson as the only player in school history to record double-digit touchdown receptions in consecutive seasons.
Higgins can play in all three receiver spots — X, slot, and Z — which makes him a valuable asset to any team.
In a draft class that is chock-full of talented receiver prospects, Higgins has all the tangibles — size, speed, and pass-catching — to be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL.
Several teams are looking to upgrade at the receiver position, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are currently without a first-round pick. As we know, though, anything can happen. The Steelers are known to draft receivers high, and 2020 will be no different. Should the unlikely happen and Higgins is still available at 49, Pittsburgh will have themselves a towering target for Ben Roethlisberger. The versatile receiver would be an excellent addition to JuJu Smith-Schuster, Dionte Johnson, and James Washington.
The Steelers had two of the best rookies in the NFL last season.
Our friends over at Draft Wire ranked the 50 best rookies from the 2019 NFL season. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, the 2019 draft class was vital to the limited success the Steelers had last season. Out of the 50 top rookies on their list, two Steelers made it.
At No. 11 they had linebacker Devin Bush. Pittsburgh worked out a trade to move up 10 spots in order to land the former Michigan State star. Bush was solid all season and ended up the leading tackler on the team with 109 total tackles. Bush saw a dip is snaps mid-season to keep him fresh and his number of splash plays fell off a bit.
Moving down to No. 28 they had wide receiver Diontae Johnson. Johnson was the best receiver on the team for the bulk of the season. He led the team with 59 receptions and was second on the team with 680 receiving yards. He also led the team with five touchdown catches. Johnson, along with all the Steelers receivers on the team struggled due to inconsistent quarterback play.
The rookie season for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson has been historic. As a pass-catcher, Johnson had one of the best rookie seasons in franchise history. But on Friday he was recognized as an All-Pro not for his receiving skills but as one of the best punt returners in the NFL.
Johnson only had a limited sample size to draw from but he impressed voters. Johnson only took over the punt-return duties in November when wide receiver Ryan Switzer went on IR. He finished the season with 20 punt returns and had a 12.4-yard per return average and one touchdown.
Pittsburgh drafted Johnson in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft with the pick they received from the Oakland Raiders for wide receiver Antonio Brown.
