After one month with the Baltimore Ravens, the Carolina Panthers appear to be on the winning side of the Diontae Johnson trade.
On October 29th, the Carolina Panthers traded wide receiver Diontae Johnson and a sixth-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens for a fifth-round selection. At the time, this appeared to be an incredibly modest return. Originally acquired to provide a consistent set of hands for former first-round choice Bryce Young, the wide receiver was one of the offense’s few bright spots early in the season. The former Pittsburgh Steeler played in seven games, catching 30 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns on 58 targets.
However, with his contract expiring and rumors of locker room problems spreading, the Panthers traded Johnson for whatever they could get. All they could obtain was a late-round selection swap, which was unexpected given that guys like Davante Adams, Amari Cooper, DeAndre Hopkins, and even Jonathan Mingo had higher returns than Johnson. However, after a month with his new team, it is easy to say that Carolina has won this trade.
Panthers Are Winning the Diontae Johnson Ravens Trade
Wide receivers are paid to catch the ball, and Diontae Johnson hasn’t done so for the Baltimore Ravens. In his four games alongside MVP candidate Lamar Jackson, the former third-round pick has only one reception for six yards. Johnson is unable to get on the field, having only five targets in Baltimore and unable to capitalize on his few opportunities. Slow starts are reasonable when players join new organizations, but the utter lack of commitment is unacceptable.
Even without Diontae Johnson, the Ravens’ offense ranks among the best in the league. Lamar Jackson is a great quarterback, and Derrick Henry is almost unstoppable. A run-heavy offense like this allows Baltimore to rely on Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews as their only regular passing weapons. However, as seen by Week 11’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a lack of competent receiving threats becomes a problem when teams can stall the rushing game. The season hasn’t over yet, but Johnson’s inability to garner targets could mean the difference between a Super Bowl appearance and another early exit.
Carolina’s Benefits
The Diontae Johnson trade increased the Panthers’ draft capital slightly, but that isn’t the only reason they won this transaction. Addition by subtraction occurs in the NFL, and Johnson’s absence has allowed the Panthers’ younger players to blossom. With Johnson gone, young players like first-round pick Xavier Legette and undrafted free agent Jalen Coker had a chance to play bigger roles.
While Coker was a healthy scratch against the Chiefs, the Holy Cross product still had 17 receptions for 263 yards, a score, and a 77.2 PFF grade, which is impressive for an undrafted free agent with a poor quarterback situation. Legette has 33 receptions for 340 yards and four touchdowns. Neither player will win Offensive Rookie of the Year, but both are growing on a weekly basis (Coker’s healthy scratch excepted) and have the potential to be staples in this offense for years.
If Carolina wanted to win the Super Bowl in 2024, you could argue that maintaining Johnson would be more beneficial in the short run than developing young receivers. However, given the team’s rebuilding efforts, it’s difficult to argue against providing youngsters playing time. Perhaps Diontae Johnson can turn things around for the Ravens later this season, but for the time being, the Panthers came out ahead in this deal.
