Will the Steelers spend enough to sign a top-tier defender in free agency……
“My heart is in Chicago, and my mind is right on target,” Johnson stated to NFL.com. “Well, we’ll see if we can persuade them both to cooperate and complete a task. I’m excited to see what lies ahead.”
With 36 tackles, one forced fumble, four interceptions, ten passes defensed, and one score this season, Johnson—who was selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft—defeated all expectations and earned a large salary.
In addition to being PFF’s highest-graded corner, the 24-year-old only allowed 25 catches for 195 yards on 50 targets. When quarterbacks targeted him, they had the lowest passer rating (33.3) of all corners with at least 150 coverage snaps.
This summer, Johnson is anticipated to sign a five-year, $78.71 million contract ($15.7 million year), according to Spotrac. Regardless of whether it’s
The Steelers, who could use another young cornerback, may profit from Johnson’s apparent shift in tone.
With rookie wide receiver Joey Porter Jr., Pittsburgh seemed to have struck gold, while veterans Levi Wallace and Patrick Peterson failed to live up to expectations in 2023. The team would immediately have one of the top cornerback tandems in the league if Johnson and Porter Jr. were paired together.
However, in order to execute such a deal, the Steelers will need to free up some cap space, as Pro Football Focus projects that they will exceed the salary cap by $15.66 million in 2024. But since they have other options, that shouldn’t be an issue.
Pittsburgh’s only option right now is to wait and see whether the Bears and Johnson
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