Steelers WR Diontae Johnson makes Pro Football Focus watch list
Pro Football Focus has high hopes for wide receiver Diontae Johnson in his first season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
This week, the web site included Johnson among the top 10 players to win offensive rookie of the year honors. Johnson was ranked No. 9.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, drafted No. 1 overall, is Pro Football Focus’ top pick. Woodland Hills native Miles Sanders, who was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, has the No. 2 spot on the list.
Today, we walk through our top 10 Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates – starting, of course, with the No. 1 overall pick and our early fav for OROY – Kyler Murray!https://t.co/FwLE5HmR39 pic.twitter.com/ItcfjmtQnP
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) May 6, 2019
Johnson is the third wide receiver among the top 10, trailing Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers (No. 5) and A.J. Brown of the Tennessee Titans (No. 8).
Here is what Pro Football Focus wrote about Johnson’s prospects of winning the award:
“Not the next receiver you were expecting? Johnson goes to a Steelers club that heaved the ball all over the yard last season – Ben Roethlisberger’s 675 passing attempts were 36 more than any quarterback in the NFL. A whopping 164 of those targets are up for grabs with the departure of Antonio Brown. Now Johnson won’t replace Brown’s production, but he should replace his role within the offense with a very similar skill set.”
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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