49ers trade target Diontae Johnson lands with Ravens

With Brandon Aiyuk down for the year after tearing his ACL, MCL and meniscus, the San Francisco 49ers are a possible buyer in the wide receiver market.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked Monday if the team would turn to wide receiver at the deadline because of the injuries on the team:

“It’s not necessarily just trying to address certain attitudes. You look at what’s available that you think can help your team get better. And if there’s something out there that’s available that we think can help our team to improve immediately without harming us for the future, that’s something we’re always looking at.”

Ricky Pearsall has shown promise in his two games, and the 49ers used a fourth-round pick on Jacob Cowing, with Jauan Jennings returning to the fold after the bye week. The 49ers lack a proven “X” receiver who can create separation against man coverage.

The Carolina Panthers looking to be sellers at the trade deadline and sit on the 1st-7th. Joe Person of The Athletic named five players the Panthers could likely be on the way and listed Diontae Johnson as a trade item with the 49ers as a destination.

“It feels like it’s going to be a matter of when, not if, Morgan moves on from a player he just traded for in March. The Panthers signed Johnson from Pittsburgh, who knew his history as a shifty receiver who could separate himself from coverage, but one who wasn’t afraid to sound off if he felt he wasn’t getting enough balls thrown his way.. The Panthers opted not to extend Johnson until the final year of his deal, so there was always a chance that Johnson would be hired Johnson has looked at times like he could be a No. 1 receiver worthy of a big contract, his two-game stretch of 15 receptions on 27 targets in Andy Dalton’s first two starts. “

Johnson has been visibly frustrated with his role in the offense, but Dalton’s ascension to starter has shown just how valuable he can be.

Kyle’s update, at 11:08 a.m. PT: Diontae Johnson has been traded to the Baltimore Ravens for a trade. Baltimore gets Carolina’s fifth-rounder in exchange for their 2025 sixth-rounder.

Person added: “After Johnson was ruled out for the Denver game after a second straight week of not practicing, the feeling around the league is that Johnson’s time in Charlotte is coming to an end soon. The Panthers should be able to land a fifth-round pick for Johnson from a team like Tampa Bay, San Francisco, Washington or an AFC contender like Los Angeles or Houston, which saw Stefon Diggs leave with a potentially serious knee injury Sunday.”

A fifth-round pick is small for a separable receiver who would easily thrive in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. In general, the 49ers have struck gold in the fifth round, but a rental for a proven separator at the position is an easy decision.