The Ravens traded for Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson on Oct. 29, but with a week before the NFL’s trading deadline, it’s fair to wonder whether general manager Eric DeCosta will swing another, bigger deal to address one of the team’s more pressing roster needs.
The Ravens acquired Johnson, 28, and a sixth-round pick from the Panthers in exchange for the Ravens’ fifth-round pick. The draft compensation might differ by less than 15 picks, so it’s essentially a low-risk, low-cost move — the Panthers are reportedly taking on the majority of Johnson’s $3.8 million salary — that adds another element to the Ravens’ passing game and potentially could help the return game.
Johnson was the leading receiver for the Panthers (1-7) with 30 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns this season. He is in his first season in Carolina after playing five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Johnson made the Pro Bowl with the Steelers in 2021 when he totaled 107 catches for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns.
He also has some return experience, though he hasn’t returned any kicks or punts since 2020. He had an 85-yard punt return touchdown in 2019.
It’s unclear how Johnson will slot into the offense, given the Ravens’ dominant, top-ranked rushing attack led by Derrick Henry and extensive use of three tight ends. Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman are the team’s top two wide receivers, and No. 3 receiver Nelson Agholor has 22 targets and 11 catches through eight games.
Wide receiver was far from the team’s biggest need with the Nov. 5 trade deadline approaching, but when Flowers briefly went down with an injury at Tampa Bay two weeks ago, the Ravens’ questionable depth at that position became apparent. Johnson at the very least is a cheap insurance policy against other wide receiver injuries, with the upside to produce big plays.
The larger question persists: Will DeCosta make any bigger, bolder moves to address the Ravens defense, which ranks last in the league in passing defense and 25th overall? The Ravens added Yannick Ngakoue earlier this season but the pass rush remains a concern, and safety looks to be a position of need, especially after veteran Marcus Williams was benched last week in what head coach John Harbaugh described only as a “personnel” matter.
Two years ago at the deadline, DeCosta sent a second-round pick, a fifth-round pick and linebacker A.J. Klein to the Chicago Bears for linebacker Roquan Smith.
The Ravens are expected to have 11 picks in the 2025 draft, so DeCosta has plenty of draft capital with which to negotiate.
Asked earlier this week about potential moves, Harbaugh said, “It depends on what kind of changes are available to us. We’re going to continue to turn over every stone with our defense and with every other part of our team, too, to get as good as we can get it over the course of a long season. … There’s a lot of things we can improve on. We’ll do whatever we can do.”
The Ravens (5-3) host the Denver Broncos this coming Sunday, Nov. 3, at M&T Bank Stadium, and then have a critical stretch with AFC North games against Cincinnati (Nov. 7) on “Thursday Night Football” and then at first-place Pittsburgh (6-2) the following Sunday (Nov. 17).