The Baltimore Ravens are joining their AFC competition in making a significant move ahead of next Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline.
The team on Tuesday agreed to acquire wide receiver Diontae Johnson from the Carolina Panthers. Baltimore will send a fifth-round pick in 2025 while also receiving a sixth-rounder.
Johnson, 28, was acquired by the Panthers this offseason as part of an attempt to overhaul the offense and provide 2023 No. 1 NFL draft pick Bryce Young with better support. But the Panthers have fallen to 1-7 while riding a five-game losing streak, and Young was benched after two games before returning last week as a fill-in for injured veteran quarterback Andy Dalton.
Johnson, who was held out of Sunday’s loss to the Denver Broncos but leads the team with 30 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns, expressed discontent with the state of the offense after a 40-7 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 7.
“Frustrated, but I can’t play every position on the field and make every play,” Johnson told reporters. “Everybody gotta do their job when it comes down to it. Yeah, it’s tough, but I just tell myself to keep going regardless.”
All things Ravens: Latest Baltimore Ravens news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.
In Baltimore, Johnson will join the NFL’s No. 2 scoring offense (30.3 points per game), with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and league leading rusher Derrick Henry powering the attack. Second-year receiver Zay Flowers leads the team with 41 catches for 227 yards, but four more players – receiver Rashod Batman, tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely and running back Justice Hill – all have at least 22 catches this season.
Johnson is in the final year of his contract.
The Ravens become the latest AFC team to swing a deal for a top pass catcher, following the New York Jets (Davante Adams), Buffalo Bills (Amari Cooper) and Kansas City Chiefs (DeAndre Hopkins).
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This story has been updated with new information.
