Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin addressed the NFL owner’s meetings in late March, emphasizing the team’s need to enhance its cornerback position as the primary motive behind trading veteran wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. Tomlin clarified that Johnson did not specifically request a trade.
In exchange for Johnson, the Steelers acquired veteran cornerback Donte Jackson from Carolina, a move Tomlin deemed necessary to bolster the team’s depth and quality at the cornerback position.
“We traded player for player,” Tomlin explained. “We had an opportunity to acquire D-Jack (Donte Jackson). D-Jack is a player we’ve evaluated multiple times since his college days at LSU and through free agency. We required assistance in depth and sought quality players at that position, prompting the exchange. They needed Diontae, and we needed D-Jack. It was a mutually beneficial move.”
While Tomlin refuted reports suggesting Johnson requested a trade, indications suggested Johnson’s satisfaction dwindled during his tenure in Pittsburgh. Reports emerged of a halftime altercation between Johnson and quarterback Mitch Trubisky during a game against the New York Jets in 2022. Additionally, Johnson clashed with Minkah Fitzpatrick after a game last season and publicly expressed preference for Mason Rudolph as the team’s starting quarterback over Kenny Pickett.
The uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position significantly influenced Johnson’s desire to leave, according to The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly. With Johnson entering the final year of his contract and unlikely to be re-signed after 2024, the decision to trade him was a strategic move for both parties.
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales expressed enthusiasm about Johnson joining the team, emphasizing his long-standing admiration for the player’s abilities.
“Diontae is a player I’ve been following closely for a significant period,” Canales stated. “I aim to foster competition within our roster annually to deter complacency and ensure no player feels secure in their position. Diontae’s addition aligns with our objective to elevate explosiveness and one-on-one matchups within the receiver room.”
Canales, who previously served as the receivers coach for the Seattle Seahawks, highlighted Johnson’s dynamic playing style and his potential to excel against elite cornerbacks, factors that Canales believed were missing from the Panthers’ pass game.
“Diontae possesses the ability to outmaneuver top-tier cornerbacks and provide a dynamic element to our passing game,” Canales remarked. “His addition addresses a critical aspect we sought to enhance in our offensive strategy.”
