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Lions cornerback Amani Oruwariye takes down Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson in the first quarter, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, at Heinz Field.
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Joe Starkey’s mailbag: Does Diontae Johnson deserve No. 1 receiver money?

Matt Freed/Post-Gazette

Joe Starkey’s mailbag: Does Diontae Johnson deserve No. 1 receiver money?

Welcome to Joe Starkey’s mailbag, where the Post-Gazette columnist and 93.7 The Fan radio host answers your questions about sports, life, Lee Flowers and everything in between. If you want to ask Joe a question, tweet him @JoeStarkey1 or email him at jstarkey@post-gazette.com. On to the questions …

Luke Sweeney, @LukeSweeney5000: Joe, at this point can you really justify giving #1 receiver money to Diontae? Seems like he’s always two steps forward, one step back. Might it be more prudent to sign Juju and throw him passes beyond the LOS?

Starkey: A very difficult question, Dr. Sweeney, for which I commend you, and a very interesting situation for the Steelers.

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Johnson has one year left on his rookie deal, which means he can be an unrestricted free agent after next season. As such, this offseason would be the logical time to sign him to a new deal, although the Steelers have tag options, as well, after next season.

Pittsburgh Steelers free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) celebrates after he intercepted a pass to Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (89) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Pittsburgh.
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First, Johnson is incredibly talented. That is not arguable. Second, he was productive this season, with 107 catches for 1,168 yards and eight touchdowns. But is he a bona fide No. 1 receiver? And what are we to make of his late-season slide?

If I’m the Steelers, my concern is that when Johnson gets a case of the drops, he has trouble shaking it. It’s almost Pedro Alvarez-like. He avoided those issues for much of the season, then had a major relapse and hit bottom in the playoff game, when he had two big drops, a penalty, 34 yards receiving and a mangled deep route (did I get it all?) in the 42-21 loss.

He sure didn’t look like a No. 1 receiver. He hasn’t had a 100-yard game since Dec. 5. His final five games in yardage totals: 34, 51, 31, 51 and 38.

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Another question: What else do the Steelers have?

Chase Claypool is a magnificent talent, but he took a step back this year. There are at least as many questions about him as Johnson.

I guess they could simply focus the passing game on Ray-Ray McCloud and throw it to him 40 times a game (they practically did that late this season).

Seriously, though, you’re not going to give Johnson a gigantic contract this offseason, are you? Guys such as Cooper Kupp and Chris Godwin rank around No. 15 among receivers at $15 million per season. Do you want to commit that kind of money to Johnson?

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger drops back to pass against the Chiefs in the second quarter, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
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I’d try to get him for less, and if he refuses, see what he does next season.

I’m not ready to anoint him a No. 1 receiver by lavishing him with a huge contract. Not after what I saw late in the year.

Robert, @robert_8383: Should I buy season tickets for the Steelers, or spend that money on donuts?

Starkey: What kind of donuts?

Yinzer Larry David, @LegallyJewish: Any real reason to cheer for the Pirates this year?

Starkey: I cannot tell you who to cheer for, Larry David, and I think this team is bound for 100 losses again. But if you’re asking me to give you reasons, maybe Bryan Reynolds? Ke’Bryan Hayes?

Tough question.

Christopher Davis, @ChrisD173: Who do you think should be the next Offensive and Defensive Coordinator of the Steelers?

Starkey: First, I’ll tell who I think shouldn’t be the coordinators: Mike Tomlin and Matt Canada.

Tomlin currently runs the defense — Keith Butler is a figurehead coordinator — and while the unit has piled up some impressive numbers over the years, it has failed miserably in the biggest games (only team in NFL history to give up 40-plus points in three straight playoff games) and fell apart against the run this season. It’s time for a change. Time for somebody from the outside to take over the defense and let Tomlin focus on more of a CEO role as head coach.

Who might that be? I’d have to do a deep dive there, Dr. Davis. The season just ended. Somebody like Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebackers coach Mike Caldwell sounds interesting. There are plenty of veterans with experience (Jim Schwartz as one, although he’s a 4-3 guy).

Meanwhile, Canada was hamstrung by a 39-year-old quarterback who couldn’t move and a bad offensive line. Tough to scheme around that, although the 39-year-old quarterback also saved Canada’s bacon late in games.

But five straight games and seven of eight without a touchdown in the first half? No real change from the Randy Fichtner system? I’m not sure I want to see what would happen in Year 2. And again, you’ll have your veterans out there. (Might I suggest Ken Whisenhunt?)

Matt from PA, @WaylandMatt: What is your percent chance the Steelers move up to get a QB at the draft?

Starkey: I’d say 50 percent, Dr. Wayland. If they identify the future of their franchise at the most important position on the field — and there is no guarantee they believe any of the quarterbacks available this year fit that description — then why wouldn’t they try to move up?

Joel Alexander, @Joel_Closer: Pittsburghers seem to not follow much football outside of the region. Have you seen any games with Carson Strong, Nevada QB? Confident, strong arm - accurate - potentially available in Round 1-2. Tunnel vision on Kenny Pickett is pretty ridiculous.

Starkey: I do agree, Dr. Alexander, that focusing only on Pickett is a bit myopic. But it’s also understandable for fans to want the Pitt guy. How many have actually watched Carson Strong play a full game? Or Matt Corral and Malik Willis, for that matter?

Meanwhile, it’ll be interesting to see if Pickett is still available at No. 20. This mock draft has him going to the Broncos at No. 9.

RVNT | Philler Instinct, @PhillerInstinct: What continues to keep Mike Tomlin immune to criticism and the hot seat? Six one and dones in the playoffs, including three in a row, and yet people consider him a “winner."

Starkey: Immune from criticism? Where have you been, Dr. Instinct?

The hot seat is another matter. We see coaches who won 11 and 12 games (Kingsbury, McCarthy) on the hot seat, yet Tomlin seems eminently safe despite no playoff wins in the past five years, a series of late-season collapses, multiple embarrassing playoff performances and disastrous coaching hires.

Why is he not even on a warm seat? Because that’s how the Steelers do business. After a third straight late-season collapse in 2020, not to mention the most embarrassing home playoff loss in franchise history, Art Rooney II not only lavished Tomlin with an extension but an unusually long one.

Nate Kanuch, @njkanuch: What is a reason Mike Tomlin shouldn’t be on the hot seat?

Starkey: He should at least be on a warm one, Dr. Kanuch (see above), but there is zero indication of that. Just the opposite, in fact.

Wh!T3\/\/0Lf13, @WhiteW0lf6913: Fire everyone from the GM on down! Blow this up! The Steelers are a complete organizational failure! My question: How do any of these coaches keep their jobs? Always unprepared, predictable, undisciplined, and just down right painful to even watch. Rebuild it now!

Starkey: Are you OK, Dr. Wolf?

Jeremiah Miller, @JeremiahMiller: Who will be the Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback in week one of 2022 season?

Starkey: Mitch Trubisky.

OK, probably not. But I still don’t believe it’ll be Mason Rudolph. I still put stock in that Jay Glazer report a few months back that said Mike Tomlin wants a veteran at the position

Yes, that was a gutless answer, Dr. Miller. I deserve your scorn.

Joe Custer, @colonelflan42: At what price do you bring juju back at?

Starkey: Same one, General Custer, and if JuJu believes the open market will treat him differently, he’s in for a big surprise. I’m still stunned he shunned Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson to come back to this.

Chris Snyder, @chrisrsnyder: Hi Joe. Do you think that the Steelers lied when they said they had a first round grade on Rudolph Mason?

Starkey: No, but I think they might have been lying when they said they had a first-round grade on Mason Rudolph.

Who is Rudolph Mason, and can he play inside linebacker?

Anyway, the Steelers seemed awfully pleased with the pick at the time, even if Ben Roethlisberger wasn’t. Perhaps they’ll give Rudolph a shot before his 50th birthday. Next year would appear to be that time, although I wouldn’t count on it.

Yinzersaurus, @jbfrompgh: Give your readers a silver lining (or 2) from the WC loss.

Starkey:

1. Kalen Ballage is a legend

2. T.J. Watt showed everybody why he should be NFL Defensive Player of the Year

Carl Reagle, @reagle_c: Rank your favorite dionte drops of last two years

Starkey: I thought the two against the Broncos were spectacular, Dr. Reagle. Low degree of difficulty on both, although for Diontae it apparently was no big deal

RyanDetoisaVirus, @glocker412: Well, Joe, how do you like the Bills chances?

Starkey: Based on what I saw last week? Very good.

Based on a lifetime of watching the Bills? Very not good.

Chiefs 37, Bills 34.

Thank you, kiddies. Also, send me questions (tweet @JoeStarkey1 or email at jstarkey@post-gazette.com). And subscribe to our FREE daily all-sports newsletter, PG Sports Feed.

First Published: January 18, 2022, 3:52 p.m.
Updated: January 18, 2022, 3:53 p.m.

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