AFC North WR rankings: Where does Steelers Diontae Johnson land?

3. Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers

Diontae Johnson's 2022 season was a microcosm of his time in Pittsburgh: inconsistent, with flashes of greatness but still too many mistakes. He had 86 catches for 882 yards and a shocking 0 touchdowns, per Pro Football Reference. He was one of the best route runners in the league, getting open consistently, but still had 7 drops. Those 7 drops are the second-most drops he's had in a season in his career.

Johnson is a better receiver than most Steelers fans give him credit for. He hasn't had elite quarterback play in his career yet, catching passes from an old Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph, Duck Hodges, Mitch Trubisky, and rookie Kenny Pickett.

This upcoming season is a big one for Johnson. The Steelers believe they have their franchise QB in Pickett and if Johnson can't establish a rapport with him, his time in Pittsburgh could be dwindling. But, I think he will and that's why Johnson lands at number three on this list.

His elite route running combined with a quarterback who can get him the ball in space should make for a big year for him . His touchdowns will regress back up to the mean, and defenses will have to pay more attention to George Pickens and Allen Robinson, freeing up Johnson to win one on one matchups. If he can reduce his drops, Johnson could elevate into a higher tier by the time the 2023 season ends.