5 players Steelers could sign in 2023 if they don’t extend Diontae Johnson

OT Orlando Brown

This is a player that I wanted the Steelers to pursue when he hit the market for the first time this year. However, the Chiefs were quick to snatch Orlando Brown back up on the franchise tag. What’s remarkable is that that 26-year-old, three-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle is playing for less money on the tag than Jaguars slot receiver, Christian Kirk.

While Brown did not test as a good athlete coming into the NFL, he has followed in his father’s footsteps to become one of the better offensive tackles in the NFL. Apparently, the scheme doesn’t matter all that much for him either. Brown was very good as a right tackle with narrow splits on the Ravens and as a left tackle with the widest splits in the NFL on the Chiefs.

Meanwhile, the Steelers have a very shaky offensive tackle situation with Dan Moore Jr. and Chukwuma Okorafor. Even if one of those players takes a big step forward in 2022, Pittsburgh could still use a player like Orlando Brown.

This is a player the Steelers could build their offensive line around. He will only be 27 years old in free agency next season and he has a long career ahead of him. I would argue that finding Kenny Pickett’s future blind-side protector is much more valuable than retaining a good (but not elite) receiver like Diontae Johnson.