Ravens Get A's for 'Home Run' Trade for Diontae Johnson
Pundits are in agreement that General Manager Eric DeCosta made a shrewd move by trading for Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson.
Not only did Lamar Jackson and the NFL's No. 1 offense gain yet another weapon, the Ravens reportedly only had to give up a 2025 fifth-round pick to acquire Johnson and a sixth-rounder. Moreover, the Panthers are taking on most of Johnson's salary, according to The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec.
NFL insider James Palmer said the move won't prevent the Ravens from making more trades before Tuesday's deadline. It's widely believed that the Ravens could be in the market for an edge rusher and/or defensive back.
ESPN's Seth Walder: "Grade for the Ravens: A. Another contender landed another wide receiver via trade – and this is my favorite of those deals so far. The Ravens paid almost nothing to acquire a good player who can help them in their Super Bowl quest. In Johnson, the Ravens land a high-end route runner who can create open windows for quarterback Lamar Jackson. … In a vacuum, I like the pickup. Given the price? It's a home run. A fifth- and sixth-round pick swap, considering that the Ravens will likely be drafting in the back half of the fifth round and the Panthers at the very top of the sixth, is worth the equivalent of a seventh-round pick in ESPN's draft pick valuations (and that's probably generous). That the Panthers also opted to pick up most of Johnson's remaining salary for the year, per The Athletic, makes for a deal that borders on absurd."
CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin: "Grade: A. The fit couldn't be more ideal, to be honest. Johnson is best-suited playing off other weapons, and his route-running should complement the speed of Zay Flowers and the power of Derrick Henry. His arrival also means less of a burden on fellow wideouts like Rashod Bateman. … This is a classic low-risk, high-reward swing, and the Ravens can reassess Johnson's value come the offseason."
USA Today’s Nate Davis: "Winners: Ravens and DeCosta. They add another weapon to what is probably the league's most dangerous and multi-dimensional offense. … One of the league's top general managers, he learned quite well during a decades-long apprenticeship under predecessor and Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome. DeCosta snagged Johnson for less than a song, making him the latest substantive acquisition in what's become a tradition over the years in Baltimore – players like LB Roquan Smith, CB Marcus Peters, OLB Yannick Ngakoue and LT Eugene Monroe among the significant types who have joined the Ravens midway through a season."
Zrebiec: "If the Ravens (5-3) and Panthers (1-7) continue on their current trajectory, the difference between the fifth- and sixth-round picks might be far fewer than 20 spots in the middle of Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft. So for that small of a price and a modest salary that won't have a significant impact on the team's tight salary-cap situation, the Ravens get a wide receiver who can get open, create big plays and potentially help in a return game that's been nonexistent pretty much all year."
The Baltimore Sun’s Childs Walker: "This wasn't the move we expected from a team that already leads the league in passing efficiency. The Ravens need players who can break up deep balls more than they need another guy who can catch them. That said, Johnson has been a durable, productive receiver throughout his six-year career, and he'll give Lamar Jackson another target who can punish blitzes and make plays in the red zone. The Ravens didn't give up much to get him and better yet, they kept Johnson away from AFC rivals that might immediately plug him in as a starter."
The Baltimore Banner's Jonas Shaffer: "If the season's first two months hadn't already confirmed it, the Ravens' trade Tuesday for Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson left no doubt: This is the most talented group of skill position players that quarterback Lamar Jackson has ever had. Johnson, who was leading the Panthers in every major receiving category (30 catches, 357 yards and three touchdowns), cannot fix a beleaguered Ravens defense. But he can add another dimension to a high-powered offense that already ranks among the league's most efficient and explosive."
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley: "Where Johnson can help Jackson the most is throws near the sideline. Ravens wide receivers have combined for 29 catches on passes thrown outside the numbers this season, the third fewest in the NFL, according to ESPN Research. Since entering the NFL in 2019, Johnson has totaled 242 catches on passes outside the numbers, the sixth-most in the league over that span."
Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd: "So Kansas City goes out and gets an edge rusher and [wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins]. Baltimore says, 'OK, we'll play that game. We'll go get a better receiver, Diontae Johnson.' The rich get richer. Quarterback, running back, tight end, receivers – Baltimore's No. 1 arguably in the league."
ESPN's Pat McAfee: "This Baltimore Ravens offense, you start adding pieces to it, oh boy is right. Pittsburgh Steelers fans, who gave been in the market for a wide receiver for a long time, are not going to be necessarily thrilled by the fact that a weapon who used to be on your team is going to the Baltimore Ravens, who seemingly have a cheat code on their offense in a running back that has found a fountain of youth and a stamina that has been so dominant he scores every single game. Lamar Jackson is playing better than he's ever played. A couple tight ends. They already have an explosive wide receiver. Bring in another gadget for that offense to cook with."
CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones: "He ends up with a Baltimore Ravens team that seemingly doesn't need him, but that's what good teams do, they stock up, and that's what the Ravens are doing. They understand this for them is going to be a 21-week season if they are playing in the Super Bowl in New Orleans in mid-February. Attrition could happen. Yeah, they like their tight ends. Yeah, they like their wide receivers. What happens when someone goes down? I was just doing a hit a little bit ago about [Houston Texans wide receiver] Stefon Diggs suffering a torn ACL while Nico Collins is on injured reserve. That can happen to any team."
Three Defensive Players Ravens Could Target Before Trade Deadline
Which defensive players could be trade targets for the Ravens continues to be a hot topic. Here's a look at the latest speculation from pundits:
Browns DE Za'Darius Smith
NFL.com’s Kevin Patra: "Yes, this move would be an in-division trade between rivals, but even after Sunday's upset, the 2-6 Browns should be in sell mode. The Ravens, meanwhile, should be heavily motivated to make the most of 2024; Tuesday's addition of Diontae Johnson to the passing attack should not preclude them from shoring up this weakness. Smith is 32 but still has punch off the edge (he has five sacks so far this season), and his size against the run would help fortify a Ravens defense that can't stop a nosebleed of late."
Panthers OLB Jadeveon Clowney
The Baltimore Sun’s Brian Wacker: "Last season for the Ravens, he matched his career high with 9 1/2 sacks and added 43 tackles, 23 pressures, nine tackles for loss, a career-best five passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He also set career highs in pass-rush win rate (16.8%) and pressure rate (15.4%), per PFF. Clowney is terrific against the run, having finished ninth among all edge players in run-stop rate (9.6%) last season, and he knows the scheme. He's also affordable. After a big year in Baltimore last season, he signed a two-year, $20 million deal with Carolina. But with the Panthers having already paid the majority of his salary this year and only $2 million guaranteed next year, the Ravens could easily fit him under their tight salary cap with room to spare and only a minimal hit for cutting him next year. And, perhaps most importantly, a return to the Charm City could rejuvenate the former No. 1 overall pick, who has never reached a Super Bowl but helped the Ravens get to the cusp while also being a dependable contributor and affable locker room presence last season."
Rams CB Tre'Davious White
Yahoo! Sports’ Frank Schwab: "The Ravens are a very good team with a big problem. They have arguably the worst pass defense in the NFL. Baltimore has allowed a passer rating of 115.3, second-worst in the NFL and better than only the Lions. The Ravens are allowing an NFL-worst 291.4 passing yards per game, 20 more than any other team. The Rams confirmed they've given White, once an All-Pro with the Bills, permission to seek a trade. Injuries have sapped a lot of White's ability, but it might not cost much for the Ravens to find out if he can help a porous secondary."
