The trade of standout wide receiver Diontae Johnson by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2023 offseason was a major move. Although reports suggested that the Pittsburgh organization was becoming tired of the problems Johnson was creating, Johnson had been an excellent player throughout his tenure there. This brought him to his trade.
With the Carolina Panthers, Johnson will have a very different circumstance than he had in Pittsburgh after being traded. In 2023, the team he will be playing for will have a terrible record, having won only two games, and a young quarterback in Bryce Young. Along with assisting Young in adjusting to the NFL, Johnson expects to be a significant enhancement for the Panthers.
When Johnson first arrived, he had supper with a few coaches and confessed that he had no idea Dave Canales was his head coach. Johnson was interviewed by The Athletic as he prepares for a new chapter in his career by spending more time in Carolina. He discussed the distinctions between Canales and Mike Tomlin, his previous head coach, throughout the conversation. Johnson gave an explanation for his first mistake in identifying Canales as his new head coach in his response. Canales is a well-known offensive system innovator and skilled coach who was hired by the Panthers as a rookie head coach. Canales remarked how happy he was to have Johnson join the Panthers offense, seeing it as a big victory for the team. He believes Johnson can have a significant impact on Young’s quarterback development.
Johnson is a special wide receiver who is well-known for his remarkable route running abilities and his ability to find gaps in coverage. Unquestionably, having a receiver of his level helps a young quarterback like Young. Nevertheless, Johnson encountered difficulties with leadership while he was in Pittsburgh. Throughout the 2023 season, his attitude and level of effort were frequently questioned. After a game, this resulted in a heated argument with teammate Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Johnson has unquestionable talent despite these problems. His separation skills and clutch plays have the potential to completely change the Panthers’ offensive scheme. Canales is hopeful that Johnson will perform to the best of his abilities with a fresh system and a change of environment. Young’s potential and Johnson’s abilities might usher in a new era for the Panthers and provide them the much-needed offensive spark.
As Johnson gets used to his new life in Carolina, he’s beginning to see how different Canales is from his previous head coach. But Steeler Nation is aware that Tomlin is unmatched. For this reason, Tomlin is the coach that a lot of players in the league want to play for.
Diontae Johnson, an ex-Steeler, had trouble in Pittsburgh
In Pittsburgh, not everything was Johnson’s fault. Playing for a struggling offense, there were moments when his annoyance was understandable. The problems escalated when he strolled off the field against the Cincinnati Bengals after failing to recover a fumble. His relations with the media were frequently unsatisfactory, and it appeared that the organization had become tired of the drama, which finally resulted in his trade.
According to Tomlin, the Steelers made the trade only because they saw a chance to get a guy they had been eyeing for a while. But Steelers supporters are reading between the lines, believing the officially recognized decision was not the only one.
