On the most recent episode of The Scho Bro Show podcast, Big Bro Scho and I were discussing the wide receiver position for the Steelers going into the 2024 NFL season. Part of the discussion was about the contract of Allen Robinson and other players who could increase production this year. But perhaps the biggest topic of all came to Diontae Johnson and his future with the Steelers.

Going into the final year of his current contract where he is set to make $10 million and salary split up as a $7 million base and a $3 million roster bonus shortly into the new league year, there was talk about if Diontae Johnson could be extended, if he will hold in again, or if the Steelers would look to trade him.

When it came to the trade option, one of the issues that has arisen as a talking point in Steelers’ Nation is if the Steelers should trade Johnson because he is not the right kind of receiver for Arthur Smith’s offense. To address this issue, I couldn’t decide which word to use. Did I want to go with a former Steelers tight end and offensive coordinator or would I go with the city in Italy?

Ultimately going with “bologna” over (Mike) “Mularkey,” I’m not buying the issue of the system fit one bit when it comes to Diontae Johnson and Arthur Smith.

It’s not that a player fitting better in a system is it something that happens. When it comes to acquiring new players via the draft or free agency, it’s definitely something to highly consider. When it comes to a new coach coming into a team, selling off some of the most productive pieces simply because they might not be exactly what the coach is looking for it his ideal offense is not a recipe for success. If you want a good example, just look at Chip Kelly a decade ago with the Philadelphia Eagles.

With Diontae Johnson and George Pickens being two players where an argument could be made either way of who is number one and number two, a player of that caliber is not something the Steelers should just get rid of strictly for scheme fit. It’s not good business, and it doesn’t sound like something that Steelers would typically do. After all, isn’t part of the offensive coordinator’s job is to get the most out of the talent he was given when he arrives while then trying to find other pieces that fit in to do what they are looking to do?

Even beyond all that, I’m also not buying into the notion that highly Johnson is the square peg and Arthur Smith’s offense is the round hole. I asked this question on the show, and I admittedly know I was seeking a true answer because it’s not as if I followed Arthur Smith’s career since 2019, but has he ever had a “Diontae Johnson“ as part of his offense? Has there been a player like Johnson that Smith simply didn’t utilize or moved on from?

The point I’m making is “knowing Diontae Johnson isn’t a fit for Arthur Smith” is a pretty big assumption. For all we know, Diontae Johnson might be the one thing that was missing from Arthur Smith’s offense since 2019 that could take it to an entirely new level. I’m not saying that it will, but others also can’t say that it won’t.

With all this being said, Big Bro Scho brought up an excellent point when it came to the potential of trading Diontae Johnson. He simply asked the question, “Would the Steelers be better if they made this move?”

We both had the opinion that the Steelers would not. While this doesn’t take away any chance of Diontae Johnson being traded this offseason, it does severely diminish the odds. But as Steelers fans know, any player could get traded. When it comes to Diontae Johnson, it would be much more probable for him to be traded due to something off the field than his performance on the field. If things get ugly with a contract dispute and there is another “hold in” (even though he has 10 million reasons not to do so), then I could see the Steelers considering a move in order to improve their locker room. But much like in 2019 when they received a third and fifth round draft pick, it’s not that their receiving room would be more productive by making the trade.

I know Steelers fans are anxious to see what Arthur Smith’s offense is going to look like in 2024. It might be very similar to 2023 or vastly different. It may provide better results, or maybe there won’t be much improvement at all. It is an unknown. But if we aren’t sure about what the results would be, why are we so sure if a certain player is right or not?

If I were a betting man, and many times I am, I would put my money on Diontae Johnson not only being on the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, but once again an integral part of the offense. Perhaps he isn’t the ideal fit for an Arthur Smith offense. If he isn’t, chances are Johnson plays out the last year of his deal and the two sides part ways. But until the Steelers take the field, it’s merely speculation as to whether or not Johnson would be an asset or a hindrance to the Steelers new offense.