PITTSBURGH — The Steelers have signed receiver Diontae Johnson to a new three-year contract, the team announced Thursday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but sources told the Post-Gazette the deal is worth $39.5 million.
Johnson had been a limited participant in practices during the first week of camp but mostly during individual drills.
The Steelers and Johnson found some middle ground in recent days that allowed them to hammer out a new deal. The Steelers are getting their No. 1 receiver under contract for the next three seasons at $13.1 million per season.
Johnson, meanwhile, gets financial security in the short term and no longer has to worry about getting injured in the final year of his rookie contract. He also has the ability to become an unrestricted free agent before his 30th birthday.
Johnson, who turned 26 earlier this month, didn’t get the big-money deals other receivers got this year. Tyreek Hill signed for an average of $30 million per season, and Davante Adams got $28 million per season.
Other players from Johnson’s 2019 draft class cashed in big-time, too. A.J. Brown signed for $25 million per season, while DK Metcalf ($24 million), Deebo Samuel ($23.8 million) and Terry McLaurin ($22.3 million) also joined the $20 million per year club in a year receivers’ salaries skyrocketed during free agency in the spring.
Johnson’s average annual salary ranks 27th in the NFL. There are 14 receivers making $20 million or more per season. Johnson is just below Robbie Anderson ($14.7 million per season) of Carolina and above Corey Davis ($12.5 million) of the New York Jets.
Johnson put up similar statistics during his first three seasons to members of the $20 million club. He has 254 career receptions for 2,764 yards and 20 touchdowns.
McLaurin, by comparison, has 222 catches for 3,090 yards and 16 touchdowns. Metcalf has 216 catches for 3,170 yards and 29 touchdowns.
The Steelers wanted to get something done now because they have two new quarterbacks on the roster who haven’t worked extensively with Johnson. Mitch Trubisky was signed as a free agent in March and has been taking most of the reps with the first-team offense.
Kenny Pickett was selected with the No. 20 overall pick in the draft in April. The only quarterback on the roster Johnson has played with in a game is Mason Rudolph.
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Post-Gazette reporter Gerry Dulac contributed to this story.
