Lamar Jackson has a new target on offense.
The Ravens went out and made a pre-trade deadline deal on Wednesday, reportedly landing wide receiver Diontae Johnson from the Panthers. It marks the fourth wide receiver traded in the last two weeks — all to AFC teams.
Johnson figured to be a prime target at the trade deadline. With the Panthers sitting at 1-7, the club was expected to be sellers, and the pending free agent was one of the names in the rumors.
So far in 2024, Johnson is up to 30 receptions on 58 targets for 357 yards and three touchdowns. All those marks rank first on the Panthers.
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Here is more on the Johnson trade to the Ravens.
Diontae Johnson trade details
Ravens acquire:
- WR Diontae Johnson and 6th-round pick
Panthers acquire
Baltimore lands Johnson to add to its fairly weak wide receiver room. The Ravens have never had an overflowing abundance of solid options at the position in the Lamar Jackson era, and only four receivers have recorded a catch this season, which includes Tylan Wallace with two.
Now the Ravens sport a very solid 1-2 punch of Johnson and Zay Flowers, along with Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor. It isn’t the deepest in the AFC, but it’s a much better outlook, considering the other deals made among AFC contenders.
Johnson is the third wide receiver on the move this deadline. The Jets kicked off the trend by trading for Davante Adams from the Raiders. That same day, the Bills countered by acquiring Amari Cooper from the Browns.
The following week, the Chiefs went out and acquired DeAndre Hopkins in a deal with the Titans.
Johnson’s time in Carolina did not last very long. He was acquired last offseason for cornerback Donte Jackson and a pick swap, but lasts just eight games as a Panthers.
The trade for the Panthers could be the first of one or two more, with running back Miles Sanders and edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney possibly on the move.
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