Steelers reportedly didn’t want to trade receiver to Chiefs for fear of helping KC
The Carolina Panthers on Tuesday agreed to trade for a wide receiver who apparently was of interest to the Chiefs.
NFL.com reported Carolina will get receiver Diontae Johnson and a 2024 seventh-round draft pick from the Steelers in exchange for cornerback Donte Jackson and 2024 sixth-round pick.
Johnson, who made the Pro Bowl in 2021, led the Steelers in receptions in two of the past three seasons, per the NFL.com story.
NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo said the Chiefs had inquired about Johnson but the Steelers were hesitant to trade him to the Super Bowl champions.
“It was made clear to the rest of the league, basically, that Diontae Johnson was going to be available,” Garafolo said on the network. “He had permission, his agent did, Brad Cicala, recently to go seek a trade. They talked to a few teams. The Kansas City Chiefs, they had conversations with them at some point, but it didn’t seem like they were going to trade him within the AFC to a contender if possible. So sending him to the NFC to the Carolina Panthers, who have been looking to add receivers via a trade.”
Chiefs fans found it humorous the Steelers didn’t want to help the Chiefs if it could be avoided. Here’s a bit of what those Chiefs fans were saying on social media.
