5 most underrated Steelers on the roster heading into the NFL Draft

Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson

Diontae Johnson might be the most underrated offensive player on Pittsburgh’s roster. This seems strange to say because Johnson was Ben Roethlisberger’s main target over the past couple of seasons.

Johnson has improved throughout his time with the Steelers. He finished his rookie campaign with just 680 total receiving yards. Flash forward to the 2021 season, Johnson had 1,161 receiving yards. Johnson also finished the season with 107 receptions – that is almost double the receptions Chase Claypool pulled in.

One big improvement that goes unnoticed is Johnson catching the ball more efficiently. The infamous drop-filled season in 2020 was painful to watch. Johnson wasn’t playing his best football that year. But it’s worth pointing out that Diontae went from 13 drops in 2020 to 5 drops in 2021.

The drops were growing pains for Johnson and it looks like he made a strong effort to correct that deficiency in his game. Steelers fans on Twitter seem to think Johnson isn’t worth a contract extension. The market is skyrocketing for wide receivers. However tough it might be for some fans to accept his higher price tag,  Johnson is one of the most reliable receivers on the market.

Johnson has shown commitment to improving his game and fans need to accept and appreciate his growth throughout the years. For a team that’s had their fair share of diva wide receivers, the Steelers would be wise to lockdown a talented wide receiver who’s got a good head on his shoulders.