Bryce Young has a new weapon for the 2024 NFL season.
The Carolina Panthers added receiver Diontae Johnson in a trade with the Steelers, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old goes from a Pittsburgh team in flux to one looking to rise in Carolina after Young’s solid rookie season and under a new head coach in Dave Canales.
Johnson and the No. 240 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft fetched cornerback Dontae Jackson and the 178th selection.
A second-team All-Pro in 2019 and a Pro Bowler in 2021, Johnson caught a career-low 51 passes for 717 yards in 2023 for a personal best 14.1 yards per catch, adding five touchdowns in his final season with the Steelers.
The third-round pick out of Toledo has totaled 391 receptions for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns over his five pro seasons, all of which came in Pittsburgh.
Johnson had only recorded more than 1,000 receiving yards once during that time and did have to deal with inconsistent quarterback play.
Johnson is in the final year of a two-year, $36.7 million extension he had signed while in Pittsburgh.
While Johnson possesses plenty of skill, he did deal with a bit of controversy this season.
He was involved in a reported locker room confrontation with safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and they had to be separated from one another in November.
It occurred during the same game when Johnson appeared to give up on a play that led to the Bengals recovering a fumble just a few feet away from him.
The change of scenery could very well be a blessing for Johnson to give him a fresh start.
Jackson appeared in 16 games for the Panthers last season and had 49 solo tackles and five pass deflections.
He has also recorded at least two interceptions a season except for 2023.
The Panthers had planned to cut Jackson if they couldn’t find a team to move him to before he was owed a March roster bonus of $4 million, The Athletic reported.
