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Panthers dealing for new target for quarterback Bryce Young

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson runs after a reception during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson runs after a reception during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks on Dec. 31, 2023, at Luman Field in Seattle.(AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

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Quarterback Bryce Young is getting a former 1,000-yard receiver as a new target with the Carolina Panthers.

On Tuesday night, the Panthers agreed on a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Carolina will send cornerback Donte Jackson and a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to Pittsburgh for wide receiver Diontae Johnson and a seventh-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

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The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and NFL Network reported the impending deal.

In 2023, Johnson had 51 receptions for 717 yards and five touchdowns in his fifth NFL season, when he missed four games with a hamstring injury.

Johnson was a Pro Bowl selection in 2021, when he had 107 receptions for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns. In his five seasons with the Steelers, Johnson had 391 receptions for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns in 77 regular-season games and 20 receptions for 199 yards and two touchdown in three playoff contests.

In his 10th season, wide receiver Adam Thielen led the Panthers with 103 receptions for 1,104 yards and four touchdowns as the top target for Young, who started 16 games after Carolina selected him from Alabama at No. 1 in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Rookie wide receiver Jonathan Mingo had 43 receptions for 418 yards in 2023. But it took 85 targets to produce those numbers, and Mingo did not score a touchdown.

DJ Chark had 35 receptions for 525 yards and led the Panthers with five TD receptions in 2023, but he is set to become an unrestricted free agent at 3 p.m. CDT Wednesday.

Johnson had been a starting cornerback for Carolina since he joined the Panthers from LSU in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He has 14 career interceptions, although he did not have one in 2023.

The Steelers have an opening at cornerback across from Joey Porter Jr. with former Alabama defensive back Levi Wallace set to become a free agent on Wednesday and Patrick Peterson getting released this week.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

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