1 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:07,560 Speaker 1: He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on 2 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:16,080 Speaker 1: Home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. Welcome back. 3 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 1: I am Dale Lollly here with Matt Williamson and Matt Um. 4 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: We've seen a lot of wide receiver movement in this 5 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:30,320 Speaker 1: off season. We've seen wide receivers get some pretty big contracts. 6 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: And you know, a lot of people have been talking 7 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: about the Ante Johnson stuff. The Steelers have not had 8 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 1: any conversations with the Ante Johnson yet on a new contract. 9 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: They haven't any conversations with make A Fitzpatrick on a 10 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: new contract, despite some reports out there saying they were close. 11 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: That those were completely and utterly false. Okay, okay, they've 12 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: been busy lately, folks. They've been a little busy with 13 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 1: the draft. They have a very set way that they 14 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: go about things. They don't they're not going to just 15 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 1: start their those discussions until after the draft happens. So 16 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 1: the reports out there, the first reports that came out, well, 17 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 1: you know, de Aunte Johnson is gonna win fifteen million 18 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: dollars a year. Again, I guess people were guessing. And 19 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:16,680 Speaker 1: then you saw some of the signings that took place 20 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 1: this offseason, Well, the Aunte Johnson's gonna want twenty million 21 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: dollars again, People guessing. Nobody's spoken to Deante Johnson about this, 22 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:28,039 Speaker 1: Nobody's spoken to Deante Johnson's agent about this, Nobody's spoken 23 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 1: to the Steelers about this, and there have been no discussions. 24 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 1: But other than that, everyone seems to have a pretty firm, 25 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 1: pretty firm grasp on what's going on. But I'm looking 26 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: here at the at this is the UH average salaries 27 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: in two for wide receivers. Tyree Hill is at the 28 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: top of it at thirty million dollars. Davante Adams a 29 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: second at twenty eight million dollars, DeAndre Hopkins is at 30 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: twenty seven point to five million dollars. A J. Brown 31 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 1: is now at twenty five million dollars. Stefon Diggs is 32 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 1: at twenty four million dollars. D J. Moore is at 33 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 1: twenty point six to eight. Keenan Allen is at twenty 34 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 1: point to five, Amari Cooper's at twenty, Chris Godwin is 35 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:17,639 Speaker 1: at twenty, Mike Williams is at twenty, Brandon Cooks is 36 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:22,920 Speaker 1: at nineteen point eight, Michael Thomas is at nineteen point 37 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: to five, Christian Kirk, who everybody talked about that deal 38 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 1: with the Jaguars, is an eighteen as is Kenny Gollandy. 39 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: Nobody said. Nobody said anything about Kenny Golladay signing an 40 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: eighteen million dollar a year contract with the Giants a 41 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,799 Speaker 1: year ago, but everybody went crazy when Christian Kirk did 42 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 1: it this year. I'd rather pay Christian Kirk that I 43 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:48,519 Speaker 1: Kenny Golladay. Yeah he's better, he's better better, yeah, yeah, yeah, 44 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 1: right and an injury prone uh. Tyler Locketts a seventeen 45 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:55,360 Speaker 1: point to five. Mike Evans is at sixteen point five, 46 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: Robert Woods at sixteen to five, Adam Feeland is just 47 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 1: a shade over sixteen. Cooper Cup a bargain at fifteen 48 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 1: point seven five, Allen Robinson's fifteen five, Courtland Sutton is 49 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:16,640 Speaker 1: fifteen two, Robby Anderson is fourteen seven five. So when 50 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:18,960 Speaker 1: and then it drops off down to Corey Davis at 51 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:24,640 Speaker 1: twelve five, Samuel those are that's the top. Michael Gallup 52 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 1: is there at eleven five as well. That's your top 53 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: twenty five highest paid wide receivers in the NFL going 54 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:37,839 Speaker 1: into the two season as we sit here today, does 55 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: anybody and by the way, Tim Patrick is right outside 56 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: the top twenty eleven point three million for Tim freaking Patrick. 57 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 1: The Patriots are paying Nelson Aguilar eleven million. Does anybody 58 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 1: really think that Deante Johnson isn't worth between fifteen and 59 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 1: twenty million dollars a year. Yeah, I figured we were 60 00:03:57,280 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: going in the same direction here, as you know, as 61 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 1: you're there's a few names on that list, Woods and 62 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: a Maori that basically they're old team dumped them because 63 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 1: there's a bad contract. You know. Um, there's obviously ones 64 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: at the top of that list where the new team 65 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:18,280 Speaker 1: just gave up massive draft capital and they're signing on 66 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 1: top of that. That all adds up. There's a couple 67 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 1: on that list. Mike Williams comes to mind. That are 68 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: new contracts for guys coming off their rookie deal that 69 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 1: I think are probably the best comps. Mike Williams and 70 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 1: Deante Johnson are very different style receivers, but I could 71 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: see the league valuing them similarly. Maybe Johnson gets a 72 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 1: little more his stats the back of his football card 73 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: is better than Mike Williams. Williams was drafted higher and 74 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: is bigger and has more traits, so but the other 75 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 1: the tape away I took from that list, especially before 76 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:56,359 Speaker 1: you start getting in the agars, you know, like the 77 00:04:56,400 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 1: top twenty, the top almost all those guys are worth it. 78 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: Like I think if we pulled up other positions, they 79 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,040 Speaker 1: be five in the top twenty. Where you go, oh, 80 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: that's a bad deal, you know. Receivers, I mean, this 81 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: kind is like a dynasty football thing. If you draft 82 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 1: receivers early, they usually don't bust and they last a 83 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 1: long time, you know, like especially once they've established themselves. 84 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: Like I don't think a J. Brown is going to 85 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 1: turn into a Batters bad player. We're running backs don't last. 86 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 1: Other positions can be up and down. That's pretty safe 87 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,600 Speaker 1: investment that these guys will remain good. You know that 88 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:35,720 Speaker 1: those top twenty, how many of the teams are regretting 89 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:39,359 Speaker 1: their contracts? Not many, right, Yeah, I agree, man. You know, 90 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: maybe you know if they are based on injuries, Like 91 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:46,599 Speaker 1: Michael Thomas at nineteen point two five when they signed 92 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 1: him to that deal, he was coming off monster seasons 93 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 1: and but then he you know, he's been hurt the 94 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 1: last two years. He's pretty much the best receiver in 95 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 1: the league. I mean, he wasn't much different than Davonte 96 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 1: Adams is now in terms of you know, where he 97 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:00,920 Speaker 1: ranked in the league, because he mean, like the Amari 98 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 1: Cooper deal is a bad deal and the Woods one 99 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 1: were bad deal. But the new theme ficking it up. 100 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:08,799 Speaker 1: I mean, it's not like they were all up the market. 101 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: I've been degraded for them because they Kenny Golladay was 102 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:16,919 Speaker 1: a bad deal. I mean, we could find someone. But honestly, 103 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 1: in all it's not it's a list of the best 104 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:21,160 Speaker 1: receivers in the league. It's not, Wow, that's a horrible one. Oh, 105 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 1: that's a horrible one. Like here, if we look the tackles, 106 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 1: it would be bad. Here's the thing, Matt. If you 107 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:30,480 Speaker 1: look at the top receivers in the league. Last year, 108 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: Deante Johnson is sixteen games, had a hundred and seven 109 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 1: catches for eleven ye yards and eight touchdowns. That's more 110 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: catches than Keenan Allen had in the same number of games. 111 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 1: I might add, yeah, that's more yards than Keenan Allen had. 112 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 1: They're similar producers at this stage in their career. And 113 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:55,160 Speaker 1: Johnson had two more touchdowns that's more catches and Steffon 114 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 1: Digs had in seventeen games last year. Mhm. I mean 115 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 1: he's what the second card receiver in league. Last year 116 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: he had a hundred He had a hundred sixty hundred 117 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 1: sixty nine targets. He was tied with Davante Adams for 118 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 1: second most in the league. And he said, well, you 119 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 1: know he should catch up money. Well, Justin Jefferson had 120 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: a hundred sixty seven targets. He had one more catch 121 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 1: than Deonte Johnson last year. Okay, so that's the that's 122 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:31,240 Speaker 1: the neighborhood he belongs in, folks. It is, It absolutely is. Um. 123 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: So there's also an argument of well, do we want 124 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:40,559 Speaker 1: to pay receivers at all? Yeah, why not just draft 125 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 1: on on Day two as the Steelers did this year? 126 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: And well, are we'll just keep churning the receiver room. 127 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 1: And I'm open to this idea that could be wrong, 128 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 1: Like you could trade Deontae Johnson or better example, Juju 129 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 1: Leaves he helps your cop pick game next year, or 130 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 1: a trade Deonte now and you keep getting picks and 131 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 1: you keep investing one every year and a day to receiver, 132 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 1: and you'd have a cheap young receiver room. But I 133 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 1: just pulled up to the numbers and over the cap 134 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: and the Steelers right now are eleven million under the 135 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: cap and they have seventy to spend next year. That's tremendous. 136 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: But you gotta give it to somebody, you know what 137 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 1: I mean, Like there is a salary floor as well, 138 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 1: and you want to keep your own that have earned 139 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 1: it too. You want to send the message. It sends 140 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:38,720 Speaker 1: a message in your locker room. What kind of message 141 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 1: does it send in your locker room when a guy 142 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: like you see Deante Johnson working before practice on catching 143 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 1: the football and working after working on his craft mhm, 144 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:50,719 Speaker 1: and then you and then you said, well we're not 145 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 1: gonna pay him, and you let him go since a 146 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:57,440 Speaker 1: terrible message. Terrible message, right, I mean, there's there's value 147 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 1: to keeping your own, and maybe you can assistently recycled 148 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 1: the wide receiver twos and threes on the team whatever 149 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 1: I mean. You know, there's certainly not this team believes 150 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 1: and date receivers are good business, but you need three 151 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 1: or four of them at least. And I think you 152 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: pay the guys that have earned it, you know. And 153 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: I think he's earned it to my paying him a J. 154 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 1: Brown money, no, but I think he gets eighteen based 155 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: off that list. You mentioned. Well, here's the other thing. 156 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: The Steelers have had four receivers in their history who 157 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 1: have had a hundred catches in the season. Hines Ward, 158 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 1: Antonio Brown, Juju Smith, Schuster, Jante Johnson. The first three 159 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: guys all did get a second contract from the team. Mhm, yeah, 160 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:53,640 Speaker 1: he will pay receivers. You could say, well, Jujus second 161 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:57,080 Speaker 1: contract was basically a one year deal, and that's true. Yeah, 162 00:09:57,840 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 1: that wasn't the plan to bring them back, and it 163 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 1: just worked out that way. I don't know that based 164 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:06,679 Speaker 1: on paid receivers over the years though. Or they gave 165 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: Hines Word a second contract. They tried to give Mike 166 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 1: Wallace a second contract. They tried, they offered him the 167 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 1: second contract, he turned it down. That's when they pivoted 168 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 1: to Antonio Brown and gave him the second deal early, 169 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: I might add, and then gave him a third deal. Yeah, 170 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 1: so they have paid wide receivers if they think that 171 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: that Deonte Johnson is a number one receiver, and his 172 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 1: number certainly suggests that he's a number one receiver. He's 173 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:34,960 Speaker 1: the only guy currently on the roster that we know 174 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 1: of who can beat man to man coverage consistently, right, right, exactly. 175 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 1: That leads me to this too, because as you were talking, 176 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 1: I pulled up Pro football focuses yards per route run stat, 177 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:48,560 Speaker 1: which I think is one of the best ways to 178 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 1: judge a wide receiver if you understand the context. Deonte 179 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 1: is thirty five in the league, but there's also like 180 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 1: twenty guys on this list ahead of them that only 181 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:00,680 Speaker 1: have like three catches, so that the really count. So 182 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: really he's like fifteen in the league, and he's right 183 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 1: right next to Stefon Diggs and Terry McLaurin. DJ More's 184 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 1: in that neighborhood, Keenan Allen's in that neighborhood, Christian Kirk's 185 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: right in that neighborhood. That's where he produced. But I 186 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 1: mentioned the context of it all with all reflect to 187 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:23,080 Speaker 1: Ben and the way the offense was run, I can't 188 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:28,199 Speaker 1: imagine Deante's average catch point is going to be as 189 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 1: low down the field going forward as it has been. 190 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:35,079 Speaker 1: You know, Like, I still think his ability to attack 191 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 1: the middle of the field and downfield and hold the 192 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 1: ball a little longer from the quarterback position is only 193 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:46,680 Speaker 1: going to raise that number and produce more yards per catch. Yeah, 194 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: you know, even if you just look at these yards 195 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 1: per target numbers. Um, you know, they could be certainly 196 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 1: be better. I bet they're really low. There was six 197 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 1: point nine, but this is six point nine is the 198 00:11:56,320 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 1: same as Marquise Brown. Yeah, you am totally different usage. 199 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 1: But yeah, now people also want to talk about the drops. Well, 200 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: here's the reality of that situation. He had four last year, 201 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:17,560 Speaker 1: four four, not forty, not fourteen. He had four. Yeah, Um, 202 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:21,719 Speaker 1: Keenan Allen really bad stretch in two thousand one, two 203 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 1: thousand was a four or five game stretcher or whatever, 204 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 1: where the bulk of his career drops. Kate. If you 205 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 1: look at the leaders from last year, the leader the 206 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 1: leading drop guy in the NFL. This is according to 207 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 1: NBC Sports dot Com. They trek drops, which is also subjectives. 208 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 1: It's very subvertive. Keenan Keenan Allen had nine, Jamar Chase 209 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 1: had nine. They led the league. I mean, you know 210 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:54,559 Speaker 1: who leads the league and drops every year? Good receivers. 211 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 1: Good receivers because they get a lot of targets. Mari 212 00:12:57,440 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 1: Cooper was the top of the list early in his career. 213 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 1: Elker was always high and or Edelman was always high. 214 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:07,080 Speaker 1: Especially good receivers that catch the ball near the line 215 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: of scrimmage, like over the middle a lot right and 216 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 1: get hit by linebackers and not pushed out of bounds 217 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 1: by a d ninety pound corners right, So that to 218 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 1: me is not an issue either. I think I thought, 219 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:23,160 Speaker 1: I thought he had a very good year last year. Um, 220 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:24,960 Speaker 1: you know, did did he fade down the stretch a 221 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 1: little bit? Did he has some issues? Yeah? Didn't play 222 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 1: well in the playoff game? Who did? Yeah? Right, right right? Um? 223 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: To me, it's a no brainer. I mean, this is 224 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 1: your number one guy, which for the most overrated stats 225 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:41,720 Speaker 1: of wide receiver analysis, and it's an easy, cheap way 226 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 1: to ding guys. But targets are earned. Drops happen when 227 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 1: you get a lot of targets. I mean there's the 228 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 1: Larry FitzGeralds of the world that don't have that problem. 229 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:54,880 Speaker 1: That are rare, But drops overall are not a big problem. 230 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 1: If you have bad ball skills, fight the football, you 231 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:00,840 Speaker 1: double catch it all the time. You can't make plays 232 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 1: outside your body, that's different. That's a problem. But if 233 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:08,319 Speaker 1: you're getting open and the ball's coming your way, targets 234 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 1: are earned. Targets are earned, and he gets as many 235 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 1: targets as anyone to leave. Yeah, and there's a reason 236 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:19,200 Speaker 1: for that. Right, he's the best guy, right he Is 237 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 1: he a number one receiver? Mm hmm. That's the truest sense. 238 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 1: He's the Steelers number one receiver. I'm gonna say no 239 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 1: if we're talking about true number ones now, the way 240 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: some teams defend him, they defends him as a number one, 241 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 1: as a number one, yes, yes, yes, And the fantasy 242 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 1: world is always funny, like I wonder who's gonna lead 243 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 1: the team and target it's the aunte I mean like this, 244 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 1: the whole every defense they play knows it. Everyone in 245 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 1: the world knows it, but no one quite as if 246 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 1: he would have been the tenth pick in the draft 247 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 1: like Chris and Lave this year and puts up these numbers, 248 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 1: everyone would call him a number one receiver. He didn't 249 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 1: come in the league of the same fan fair and 250 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:03,480 Speaker 1: there are other receivers in the room that are very 251 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 1: good as well. So people want, you know, is he 252 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 1: the number one? He's the Steelers number one. When you 253 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 1: asked me is he a number one, that's a different 254 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: question to me. You know, is he a number one 255 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: on just about any team in the league. That's a 256 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 1: small handful of players. Andre Johnson is that guy? Is 257 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 1: he Andre Johnson? No? But is he a top twenty 258 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 1: receiver in the league, which has a mental value and 259 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 1: is worth maybe twenty million a year? Without question? Is 260 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 1: he a number one? Period? I would say he's right 261 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 1: outside that. If I had to draw a line of 262 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 1: who number ones are and who aren't, he would be 263 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 1: the best of the not number ones. Yeah. I heard 264 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 1: a thing today that there was somebody they were talking 265 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 1: actually talking about the Patriots in their draft, and they 266 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: were ripping the Nikkil Harry pick a few years ago, 267 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 1: which was the Deante Johnson draft, right, and they said 268 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 1: there were some good receivers taken after after Nikkil Harry 269 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 1: they were, and then you know, they named A J. Brown, 270 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 1: they named you know, some of those guys, and right right, 271 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 1: I didn't mention Deante, didn't mention Deante Johnson. He's right 272 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: there in that conversation with those guys. Mhm. You know, 273 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 1: he just I don't think he gets the respect that 274 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: he perhaps deserves, not only nationally but for a lot 275 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 1: of Steeler fans. No, I think you're right on that too. 276 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 1: And the offense has been hard to watch lately, so 277 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 1: I mean, I think mclauren's like that. I think DJ 278 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 1: Moore's like that. Where I look at those two and 279 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: if you would put d J. Moore or McLaurin on 280 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 1: the Chiefs, if they would drafted them instead of Icole Hardman, 281 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 1: all in the same draft, they would be number one receivers. 282 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:51,560 Speaker 1: You know. And the Steelers situations over the last two 283 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 1: or three years hasn't been quite as bad as Carolinas 284 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 1: or Washington's. But Deonte has thrived in that environment. You know. 285 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 1: It's it has not been a great passing game here, 286 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 1: and everyone in the world's key in on him. I mean, 287 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 1: those are facts. He's catching a lot of the same passes, 288 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 1: the same roots that Antonio Brown did. Now he's not 289 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 1: I'm not saying he's not as good as Antonio Brown 290 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:19,840 Speaker 1: was his prime. Maybe it was the definition of what 291 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:23,920 Speaker 1: I'm calling was the number one but there, I mean, 292 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:26,480 Speaker 1: he's doing this some of some similar things with it 293 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 1: with similar targets in that again, you know, Cooper Cups 294 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:32,399 Speaker 1: the number one receiver, Davante Adams the number one receiver. 295 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:38,240 Speaker 1: Justin Jefferson is the number one receivers, Stefon digs Um, Easy, 296 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 1: Keenan Allen, I'm not sure how many you know McLaurin is. 297 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 1: I think Chase's one or will be will be uh 298 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 1: you know. I mean it's been a year, but he's 299 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 1: pretty rare. I don't know how many there are other 300 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 1: than that. I'm gonna just say I'm looking here at 301 00:17:56,119 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 1: the reception. I don't think Mike know that is because 302 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:03,920 Speaker 1: Mike Evans has a lot of games. He has two catches. 303 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 1: I know. I wonder if Evans was a Steeler would 304 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:12,159 Speaker 1: he target Deante though, and some of those are Brady traits. 305 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:16,639 Speaker 1: I think he k Metcalf might be, but she also 306 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:18,960 Speaker 1: does everything. He has a lot of games where he 307 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:22,199 Speaker 1: is two or three catches, like just the number. To me, 308 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:24,920 Speaker 1: a number one receiver is a guy that the team 309 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 1: will throw the ball to, even if he's double covered. 310 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 1: They will force the ball to him because they know 311 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:32,880 Speaker 1: he can make place A B and Julio and their 312 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 1: prime J and the prime. Yeah. I don't see that 313 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:43,840 Speaker 1: with DK Metcalf. I don't see that with Mike Evans. Yeah. 314 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:45,879 Speaker 1: I think I can make it. I can make a 315 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:48,359 Speaker 1: better argument that Mark Andrews is that guy is a 316 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:51,600 Speaker 1: number one receiver. Oh, Kelsey's the number one receiver. Else 317 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:54,360 Speaker 1: is a number one receiver. Kittle's healthy as a number 318 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:57,120 Speaker 1: one receiver, right, Andrews and Waller might be as well. 319 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 1: Pitts will be someday, probably, Right. That's a conversation too, 320 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:04,639 Speaker 1: of the young guys. And this doesn't apply to the 321 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:11,480 Speaker 1: Ante much like Jefferson became that immediately. I think Jamaar 322 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:15,680 Speaker 1: Chase will be, and I think Ceedee Lamb will be. 323 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 1: But there's Lamb's not out of the woods yet, you know. 324 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:23,040 Speaker 1: I mean, in terms of the assumed to be established 325 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 1: number one guys, I'm gonna fight Youn Evans though. I mean, 326 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 1: that guy's a thousand yards every year of his career. 327 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 1: I think he's great. Yeah, I think he's great. I 328 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:35,120 Speaker 1: just don't know that he is a true number one 329 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 1: because they allow him to be taken out again, they 330 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 1: do it themselves. Yeah, well that's a brady thing. I 331 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:46,439 Speaker 1: don't I don't know, but it happens. I think a 332 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:49,200 Speaker 1: b shirre didn't help his cause because Antonio was really 333 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:51,679 Speaker 1: good as a buck before he lost his marbles. You know. 334 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: By the way, did you see he's coming back to 335 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:59,239 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh for a concert. Is he really? Maybe we should go, well, 336 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:03,719 Speaker 1: let's do it. I'm sure people will notice. I can 337 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:05,199 Speaker 1: hit him up, but I can text him, see if 338 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:07,640 Speaker 1: you can give us some tickets there for that. But yeah, 339 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 1: I think people are off track when they when they say, well, 340 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:14,159 Speaker 1: I wouldn't pay Deonte Johnson. But first of all, it's 341 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 1: not your money. M hm. You know that's the thing 342 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:19,400 Speaker 1: to remember. The Steelers have to pay that money to somebody. 343 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:23,439 Speaker 1: I would rather pay it to Deonte Johnson then hope 344 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 1: that somebody else hits and and you know, you hit 345 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 1: on it in the draft. Just because you've had past 346 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:31,640 Speaker 1: success drafting receivers doesn't mean that you're just gonna happen 347 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:34,639 Speaker 1: every time. You live on that right, Well, and it 348 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 1: also gives you next year you don't take one on 349 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 1: day two and you take a corner. You know, that's 350 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 1: the thing. I mean, if you if you pay that yeah, 351 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:43,879 Speaker 1: if you give you know, if you give Deonte Johnson 352 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:47,520 Speaker 1: a new contract, extend him, that takes that off the 353 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: off the table for you. Now you can focus you 354 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:53,440 Speaker 1: focus on the defense again. He's twenty five years old. Yeah, 355 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:55,960 Speaker 1: and I'm sure the way they structure the new deal, 356 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:59,040 Speaker 1: assuming he gets one, is if he's at the climbing 357 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:01,879 Speaker 1: player in two years, or isn't worth that money you 358 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:06,400 Speaker 1: can get out of it, or you know, we've we've 359 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:10,919 Speaker 1: seen it again. Receivers are very movable commodities, without question, 360 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:14,400 Speaker 1: and maybe as much as quarterbacks, maybe more so. It's 361 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:17,119 Speaker 1: easier to trade them. And these young gms in the 362 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 1: league are not the old school. We can't trade our picks. 363 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:23,200 Speaker 1: You know, people are willing to move and dumb future first, 364 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 1: and you know it's easier to move a guy now 365 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:30,399 Speaker 1: than ever. And again I've been stressing a lot this 366 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:34,920 Speaker 1: offseason of picking is so cap friendly and the economics 367 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:38,200 Speaker 1: of football and drafting the right positions in the first 368 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 1: round for economic reasons. And again, the Steelers right now 369 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:44,800 Speaker 1: as it stands the second supposedly by over the cap 370 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: standards of seventy five million in cap space a year 371 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:49,400 Speaker 1: from now, which is gonna make for another fun off 372 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:52,639 Speaker 1: season for you and I talking about it. But you 373 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:54,840 Speaker 1: want to You've got to hear the money to the 374 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:58,280 Speaker 1: right people someday. I mean, make a t J. Deonte. 375 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:02,439 Speaker 1: Is Deonte as good as those two? No, But you 376 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 1: don't just let them walk and not pay it. I mean, 377 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:07,440 Speaker 1: you don't want to be the team of seventy million 378 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 1: cap phase every year. Yeah, no, I agree. I think 379 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 1: you know you gotta pay somebody. Why not give it 380 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:15,879 Speaker 1: to the guy in your locker room who who have 381 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 1: is who's your leader on offense? Why not Deonte Johnson. 382 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:23,680 Speaker 1: I saw something out there said, well, Deonte Johnson's he's uh, 383 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:27,080 Speaker 1: he's shown immaturity issues. I haven't seen it at all. 384 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:29,479 Speaker 1: I haven't since the rest of the receiver rooms been 385 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:32,440 Speaker 1: immature for since a b doesn't mean he is right. 386 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:34,159 Speaker 1: I have not seen that at all. I've seen a 387 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:37,200 Speaker 1: guy who has put the work in and uh done 388 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 1: all the right things on the field. And again, do 389 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:44,199 Speaker 1: have to develop leaders on offense. And I think there 390 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:47,119 Speaker 1: was a conversation I had on video with Mr Matthews 391 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:51,720 Speaker 1: that if you look at just the offensive players that 392 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 1: you expect to play a lot of snaps this year, 393 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:58,240 Speaker 1: I mean, like the top four keen offensive guys on 394 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:02,360 Speaker 1: this team, including Trobiski and pick it, you know, Deante 395 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 1: I think is the oldest one of the group. Yeah, unless, unless, 396 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:09,920 Speaker 1: unless Mason Cole breaks into the starting lineup. Yeah, Deante 397 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:12,440 Speaker 1: Johnson will be the oldest guy on offense, the old 398 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:15,960 Speaker 1: starter slash you know, too deep on the tight end list, 399 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:19,040 Speaker 1: three deep on the receiver list. You know, guys that play. 400 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 1: So that that's my my thoughts on Deante Johnson. UM, 401 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 1: I know some you know, some of our listeners may 402 00:23:25,359 --> 00:23:27,919 Speaker 1: disagree with that. That's fine, your opinion on it. My 403 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:31,480 Speaker 1: opinion on it. Um. The bottom line is he's a 404 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: good receiver. You don't let those guys just walk for nothing. 405 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:36,960 Speaker 1: I would at least explore that. You know, if he 406 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 1: wants million, then no, but I don't think he's gonna 407 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 1: want million. No, we don't get it from anybody. Yeah, 408 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:46,399 Speaker 1: I don't. I don't think we know what Deante Johnson 409 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 1: wants right now because nobody knows. There have been no talks. 410 00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:53,439 Speaker 1: I can't stress that enough. Yeah, nobody spoken those agents. No, 411 00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 1: he hasn't spoken about it, and the Steelers they haven't 412 00:23:56,080 --> 00:24:00,960 Speaker 1: had a conversation about it. So you know, Yeah, that's 413 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: that's the way that is right now. Yeah, we're gonna 414 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:05,760 Speaker 1: take another break. He is Matt Williams and I'm Dale Lally. 415 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:08,280 Speaker 1: You're listening to the drive here on Steelers Nation Radio. 416 00:24:08,520 --> 00:24:10,639 Speaker 1: We'll be back with more right after this