Ex-Steelers Star Receiver Called ‘Valuable Trade Piece’ For Panthers

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a big move this past offseason.

Pittsburgh traded Pro Bowl wide receiver Diontae Johnson after spending five seasons with the team. He was selected in the third round of the 2019 National Football League Draft and developed into an important piece in the team’s offense. Although this is the case, the Steelers dealt him to the Carolina Panthers this past offseason.

There’s a chance he won’t stick around with the Panthers for the foreseeable future, though. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox put together a list of 10 possible trade candidates and mentioned Johnson and called the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots possible landing spots.

“The Panthers acquired Diontae Johnson in the offseason with a plan to make him their new No. 1 receiver,” Knox said. “Through two weeks, however, Johnson has caught just five passes for 34 yards. Carolina’s offense, as a whole, has struggled, and the team recently decided to bench 2023 first-overall pick Bryce Young in favor of veteran backup Andy Dalton. The Panthers will likely see how Johnson fares with an experienced quarterback in Dave Canales’ offense before entertaining any trade thoughts.

“Still, the 28-year-old will be a free agent next offseason and could be a valuable trade chip if Carolina continues to flounder. Receiver-needy teams could use Johnson, who caught 51 passes for 717 yards and five touchdowns as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ No. 2 receiver last year. The Los Angeles Rams, who now have both Kupp (ankle) and Nacua (knee) on the injury list, could be at the forefront of interested teams. The New England Patriots may also want to consider pursuing Johnson.”

Johnson has plenty of potential but may not be in the best situation right now.

More NFL: Steelers’ Potential Trade May Emerge After Recent Receiver Struggles