03-13-2024, 08:10 AM -
OK, seems that Jonson has quite the diva rep. Here's what Joe Person wrote:
Dan Morgan got one of the playmakers Tuesday he sought in Diontae Johnson.
But did the Carolina Panthers general manager also get one of the “dawgs” he famously referred to during his introductory news conference … or a mercurial receiver with a history of dogging it when things don’t go his way?
It likely depends on how often Bryce Young targets Johnson this season after the Panthers acquired the sixth-year wideout in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers that will become official Wednesday with the start of the league year.
Johnson is hardly the first wideout to earn his diva stripes. Steve Wilks didn’t have much use for the last one to play in Carolina, prompting Scott Fitterer to ship Robbie Anderson to Arizona for a pair of late-round picks after Anderson threw a hissy fit on the sideline in Wilks’ first game as interim coach in 2022.
But after watching Young get knocked around last year while waiting for receivers to get open, the Panthers weren’t in a position to be picky when it came to categories such as “plays well with others” and “dives on loose balls.”
And it’s not like they gave up a lot for Johnson, who was second-team All-Pro as a rookie and a Pro Bowler as recently as 2021. Morgan sent cornerback Donte Jackson, who was set to become a salary-cap cut Wednesday and a sixth-round pick (No. 178) to Pittsburgh for Johnson and a seventh-round selection (No. 240).
With Johnson’s production declining as he entered the final year of his contract, the Steelers were willing to move the 27-year-old receiver. After a season in which defensive backs stuck to Carolina wideouts like gum on a sandal, the Panthers were willing takers. They’ll pick up Johnson’s $3 million roster bonus and $7 million salary in what amounts to a one-year trial run.
If Johnson gets open, picks up yards after the catch and keeps his mood swings to a minimum, maybe Morgan and Dave Canales have him stick around through the rebuild. If he is inconsistent, complains to Young about throwing him the ball and fights with teammates — which he did in each of his last two seasons in Pittsburgh — well, it was worth a shot.
Asked for the scouting report on the 5-10, 183-pound Johnson, a pair of longtime personnel executives with other teams both began with snarky comments about his attitude. “Pain in the ass,” one said, “both on the field and off.”
But both praised Johnson’s playmaking ability, with one calling him and “quick and shifty” and the second scout describing him as a “good player (who’s) fast
When Johnson broke in with the Steelers as a third-round pick from Toledo in 2019, he ranked fifth in the league with an average separation of 3.6 yards, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Johnson’s separation became a little tighter each season through 2023, when his 2.9-yard average was tied for 54th among a group of 12 other receivers that included the Panthers’ Adam Thielen.
Thielen, who turns 34 in August, posted a 1,000-yard receiving season in his first year in Charlotte. Thielen again figures to line up predominantly in the slot, with Johnson the likely X and Jonathan Mingo the Z. But Canales likes to use his receivers in different spots, and Morgan is more interested in playmaking upside than alignment.
Johnson is an excellent route-runner, an area where he should be able to help Mingo improve after the second-round pick’s raw rookie season in that department. Johnson gets in and out of breaks quickly, and the Panthers hope he can rediscover his form from 2021, when he pulled down 107 passes (most of them from Ben Roethlisberger) for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns — all career highs.
https://theathletic.com/5337755/2024/03/...son-trade/
An interesting set of negatives for the Panthers to take on especially with a young struggling QB. I assume Canales has worked with a few divas in his career..must think he can teach him some patience...and manners...lol.
Dan Morgan got one of the playmakers Tuesday he sought in Diontae Johnson.
But did the Carolina Panthers general manager also get one of the “dawgs” he famously referred to during his introductory news conference … or a mercurial receiver with a history of dogging it when things don’t go his way?
It likely depends on how often Bryce Young targets Johnson this season after the Panthers acquired the sixth-year wideout in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers that will become official Wednesday with the start of the league year.
Johnson is hardly the first wideout to earn his diva stripes. Steve Wilks didn’t have much use for the last one to play in Carolina, prompting Scott Fitterer to ship Robbie Anderson to Arizona for a pair of late-round picks after Anderson threw a hissy fit on the sideline in Wilks’ first game as interim coach in 2022.
But after watching Young get knocked around last year while waiting for receivers to get open, the Panthers weren’t in a position to be picky when it came to categories such as “plays well with others” and “dives on loose balls.”
And it’s not like they gave up a lot for Johnson, who was second-team All-Pro as a rookie and a Pro Bowler as recently as 2021. Morgan sent cornerback Donte Jackson, who was set to become a salary-cap cut Wednesday and a sixth-round pick (No. 178) to Pittsburgh for Johnson and a seventh-round selection (No. 240).
With Johnson’s production declining as he entered the final year of his contract, the Steelers were willing to move the 27-year-old receiver. After a season in which defensive backs stuck to Carolina wideouts like gum on a sandal, the Panthers were willing takers. They’ll pick up Johnson’s $3 million roster bonus and $7 million salary in what amounts to a one-year trial run.
If Johnson gets open, picks up yards after the catch and keeps his mood swings to a minimum, maybe Morgan and Dave Canales have him stick around through the rebuild. If he is inconsistent, complains to Young about throwing him the ball and fights with teammates — which he did in each of his last two seasons in Pittsburgh — well, it was worth a shot.
Asked for the scouting report on the 5-10, 183-pound Johnson, a pair of longtime personnel executives with other teams both began with snarky comments about his attitude. “Pain in the ass,” one said, “both on the field and off.”
But both praised Johnson’s playmaking ability, with one calling him and “quick and shifty” and the second scout describing him as a “good player (who’s) fast
When Johnson broke in with the Steelers as a third-round pick from Toledo in 2019, he ranked fifth in the league with an average separation of 3.6 yards, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Johnson’s separation became a little tighter each season through 2023, when his 2.9-yard average was tied for 54th among a group of 12 other receivers that included the Panthers’ Adam Thielen.
Thielen, who turns 34 in August, posted a 1,000-yard receiving season in his first year in Charlotte. Thielen again figures to line up predominantly in the slot, with Johnson the likely X and Jonathan Mingo the Z. But Canales likes to use his receivers in different spots, and Morgan is more interested in playmaking upside than alignment.
Johnson is an excellent route-runner, an area where he should be able to help Mingo improve after the second-round pick’s raw rookie season in that department. Johnson gets in and out of breaks quickly, and the Panthers hope he can rediscover his form from 2021, when he pulled down 107 passes (most of them from Ben Roethlisberger) for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns — all career highs.
https://theathletic.com/5337755/2024/03/...son-trade/
An interesting set of negatives for the Panthers to take on especially with a young struggling QB. I assume Canales has worked with a few divas in his career..must think he can teach him some patience...and manners...lol.