Terry McLaurin’s extension sets stage for Steelers WR Diontae Johnson

With Terry McLaurin earning a rich, new contract extension, we now have a good idea of what the Pittsburgh Steelers would have to pay Diontae Johnson to keep him around.

Another productive wide receiver from the 2019 NFL Draft class just got paid. On Tuesday, June 28th, the Washington Commanders gave Terry McLaurin a three-year, $71 million extensions with one year still remaining on his rookie contract, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

McLaurin’s new money will net him $23.6 million annually — instantly making him one of the top-ten highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL in terms of yearly value, via Over the Cap. This lofty extension holds a particular amount of weight for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Prior to McLaurin breaking the bank, there were talks that the Steelers could be looking to extend wide receiver Diontae Johnson prior to the start of the 2022 season. Johnson and McLaurin actually have a lot in common.

Both Johnson and McLaurin were third-round picks and wide receivers from the 2019 draft class, and both players have grossly outperformed expectations to date. While McLaurin has more products in terms of raw numbers over his first three seasons in the NFL, Johnson had more receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns in 2021 than McLaurin did in any season of his career (albeit not by a lot).

McLaurin’s deal impacts the Steelers

Regardless, this certainly impacts contract negotiations between Diontae Johnson’s agent and the Pittsburgh Steelers. In fact, McLaurin’s extension could mean that Omar Khan may be less likely to get a deal done before the season.

With McLaurin and A.J. Brown (two receivers from the 2019 draft class) already earning contract extensions this offseason that has made them a few of the richest wide receivers in the NFL, the ship has sailed when it comes to trying to get Diontae Johnson on a team-friendly deal.

In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if a deal didn’t get done at all this year… and maybe that’s for the best.

Through the first three years of his NFL career, Johnson has put up very similar numbers to McLaurin, according to Pro Football Reference, and these will no doubt be used by Diontae’s agent in negotiations:

Regardless of whether or not we agree with the reasoning of this, we now have a very good idea of what Johnson is going to demand on a new deal. It might be in the best interest of both parties to forgo an extension this year.

Part of the reason for this is because the Steelers would be paying Diontae even more than the number he would receive on a franchise tag. If he plays really well in 2022, Pittsburgh could always tag him and retain him for roughly $20 million, via Over the Cap.

However, Johnson hasn’t exactly been the most consistent receiver either. In 2021, he was briefly benched because of his concerning drop issues. He ended up leading the league in this department in his second season.

Last year, Johnson started off really strong, but he returned back to his 2020 self when drops plagued the final 7 games of his season and into the playoffs against the Chiefs.

There’s no doubt that Diontae Johnson is one of the better players on the Pittsburgh Steelers, but after Terry McLaurin’s deal, there might not be any rush in trying to get something done with Johnson anytime soon.