The Baltimore Ravens shook up the football world on October 29, when they acquired star receiver Diontae Johnson from the Carolina Panthers.
The massive trade came at the heels of a disappointing loss to a 1-6 Cleveland Browns team that had no business beating the Purple and Black. Even though the passing game wasn’t an issue, it was apparent that dropped passes and a lack of consistency were holding the passing attack back.
Instead of waiting and hoping their issues would resolve on their own, the Ravens took action and secured an immediate upgrade. The trade with Carolina signaled Baltimore’s “win-now” mentality – a bold, refreshing move that shows their commitment to contending this season.
As tempting as it is to picture Johnson racking up double-digit receptions and over 100 yards, it’s probably wiser to set realistic expectations. For now, fans can simply be excited to see him on the field, ready to contribute in any capacity for his first game as a Raven.
The Ravens can practice patience with Diontae Johnson
Diontae Johnson is set to make his debut as a Baltimore Raven today, but fans might want to temper their expectations. Recent reports indicate that Johnson’s role will be somewhat limited for his first outing with the team.
Recent reports suggest that Johnson’s role in his Ravens debut will be limited, as he’s not expected to see extensive playing time. He’s still getting up to speed and learning the nuances of Baltimore’s offense.
The news about his workload isn’t necessarily overly exciting, life-changing, or all that surprising. However, it does suggest the Ravens are taking a more methodical approach in their utilization of their new star receiver. And they can be.
Heading into the trade deadline, wide receiver wasn’t uniformly seen as the Ravens’ top priority. However, some savvy negotiating by Eric DeCosta flipped the script entirely, allowing Baltimore to pull off a steal in their trade with the Panthers. With Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman already in the lineup, there’s less urgency to get Johnson fully up to speed right away.
The Ravens have the flexibility to ease him into the offense alongside their existing playmakers.
Look for Johnson to deliver a highlight-worthy play or two today, hinting at the potential this Ravens offense could unlock by playoff time. Just keep expectations in check for now regarding his immediate impact on the field.
It may take some time for Johnson to fully sync up with Lamar Jackson and the rest of the offense, but once he does, his impact could be as game-changing as Derrick Henry’s has been this season.
For a fifth-round pick (while getting a sixth-rounder back), Baltimore acquired Diontae Johnson from the Carolina Panthers, a proven playmaker with years of AFC North experience. It’s the type of move that’s been the hallmark of Eric DeCosta’s tenure as GM: sharp, resourceful, and set up to help Baltimore win now.
Adding Johnson was exactly the boost Baltimore needed. Even though Zay Flowers has been electric, the receiving corps hasn’t hit its full potential, with Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor struggling with drops in key situations.
Johnson’s familiarity with the division (he was formerly a Pittsburgh Steeler) and his ability to step into the starting lineup makes him a perfect fit to give Lamar Jackson another trustworthy target as the Ravens push for the postseason.
But despite what seems like a straightforward role for Johnson, it didn’t take long for the Ravens to start complicating his introduction. Reports suggest the Ravens are already exploring options to use Johnson as a punt returner.
For fans expecting him to bolster the offense, that feels like a baffling first move.
It took 72 hours to overthink Diontae Johnson’s role in Baltimore
Let’s be clear: Johnson has the skills to be a real difference-maker on offense. With his hands, route-running ability, and natural separation skills, he’s exactly what Baltimore needs to take pressure off Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers.
Instead, head coach John Harbaugh recently mentioned that Johnson has been testing the waters as a returner in practice, saying, “He was out there today with the punt returners – just trying to get the rust knocked off.”
Chris Horton said the Ravens will continue to roll with Tylan Wallace as punt returner. Diontae Johnson will get worked in but he hasn’t done returns in a few years. So he’ll need some practice reps before he becomes the regular punt returner.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) October 31, 2024
Sure, it might make sense to see what Johnson can do in the return game eventually. But why rush him into a role on special teams when his main appeal is as a receiver who can help this offense thrive?
The Ravens didn’t trade for Johnson to have him fair-catching punts. They brought him in to bring veteran consistency to a receiving corps that has struggled with reliability.
Overcomplicating his role, especially this early, could backfire. Baltimore has a history of trying to be too clever with its personnel decisions, but this doesn’t need to be one of those times. Johnson’s addition was a strategic move to shore up offensive depth, especially considering the struggles Baltimore’s had in recent games with dropped passes and missed connections.
The Ravens have a great opportunity to elevate their offense by simply letting Johnson do what he does best. Bringing him in as a receiver first and focusing on maximizing his impact are no-brainers. Baltimore’s offense can potentially be one of the league’s most dangerous, and Diontae Johnson can play a huge role in that.
The sooner the Ravens commit to letting him settle into the receiver rotation, the better positioned they’ll be to make a serious postseason push.
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The Baltimore Ravens apparently got sick and tired of watching former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson reel off big plays against them during his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, so they decided to pick him up via a trade as soon as they could.
Johnson was dealt to Baltimore from a rebuilding Carolina team along with a sixth-round pick in exchange for a fifth-round pick. In essence, the Ravens are moving back about 20 spots in the draft order to take Johnson, which is a huge win for this team.
The Ravens have one star receiver in Zay Flowers, but the uneven play of Mark Andrews and still concerning lack of overall depth at the receiver position might not be what Todd Monken and John Harbaugh want to see when the postseason comes around. They needed one more playmaker, and they got him for an efficient price.
Baltimore will have to move a few pieces around now that Johnson is in town, as they need to make sure they get the most out of a player who needs to be used in a very specific way.
Updated Baltimore Ravens wide receiver depth chart after Diontae Johnson trade
WR1: Zay Flowers
WR2: Diontae Johnson
WR3: Rashod Bateman
WR4: Nelson Agholor
WR5: Tylan Wallace
WR6: Devontez Walker
Flowers is continuing his ascension from good to great this season, and bringing Johnson into the fold is not going to change his status as one of the best young receivers in the game. Where Johnson will make an impact is underneath, which will largely take targets away from Bateman and Agholor.
Of those two, Bateman seems like the more likely player to get a somewhat regular diet of targets. With how much Baltimore likes to run the ball and how bad Agholor has been this year, it seems like the veteran will be all but officially phased out of the offensive game plan after Johnson settles in.
Tylan Wallace and rookie Devontez Walker will likely have even less chance of getting targets. With both of them paling in comparison to Johnson as a playmaker underneath, the Ravens decided that neither of them could be counted on to take up important targets in postseason games.
