Diontae Johnson Excited To Move From Panthers To Ravens, Could Help In Playoff Push

Wide receiver Diontae Johnson is reportedly settling in well with the Baltimore Ravens after the team acquired him in a trade with the Carolina Panthers earlier this week. In the midst of one of his best NFL seasons, Johnson has gone from a struggling franchise to a Super Bowl contender.

“Once I found out where I was going, I was excited,” Johnson said, via a team report. “Sigh of relief. I’m ready to work.”

In his first season with Carolina after five years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Johnson stepped out as an offensive leader, even as the team struggled. While the Panthers bounced between quarterbacks Bryce Young and Andy Dalton on the way to a 1-7 record, Johnson caught 30 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games. He missed Week 8 with an injury but is expected to be available for his Ravens rebut in Week 9.

Though Johnson began his career with Ben Roethliseberger in Pittsburgh, he has struggled to produce consistently with a number of Steelers and Panthers quarterbacks since then. Teaming up with reigning MVP Lamar Jackson in Baltimore is a significant upgrade.

The Ravens’ offense does not necessarily run through a single receiver, as Jackson famously prefers to spread his passes between the likes of Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and others. As a result, Johnson is unlikely to maintain the dominant target share that he had in Carolina, but instead has a far more realistic chance of contributing to a legitimate playoff contender. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh even discussed using him a punt returner Wednesday.

“[Johnson has] talked about it,” Harbaugh said. “He was out there today with the punt returners … just trying to get the rust knocked off probably … and help us in that area as well.”

With Johnson on the roster, the Ravens may have everything they need to make another serious bid for the Super Bowl in 2024. Last season, the team came up just short to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. But with Derrick Henry in the backfield and Johnson added to the receiver corps, the offense could take on the best in the AFC with a renewed sense of purpose later this year.