Ravens acquisition of WR Diontae Johnson prompts 2 reactions: Why not and what’s next?

On October 30, 2024By Littum

Why not? And what’s next?

Both reactions apply to Tuesday’s news that the Baltimore Ravens have agreed to trade a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Carolina Panthers for talented but needy wide receiver Diontae Johnson and a 2025 sixth-rounder. The Panthers, who clearly wanted Johnson gone, also agreed to pay off a portion of his salary, meaning the Ravens owe the receiver about $625,000 for the remainder of the season.

If the Ravens (5-3) and Panthers (1-7) continue on their current trajectory, the gap between the fifth and sixth rounds could be far fewer than 20 spots midway through Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft. So for that small 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, make big plays and potentially help in a return game that has been non-existent seen throughout the year.

This is where the “why not” comes into play. The Ravens gave up virtually nothing to get a guy who can help them offensively and potentially on special teams.

Wide receiver was nowhere near Baltimore’s biggest need. Zay Flowers is coming off an 87-catch, 1,120-yard season. Rashod Bateman is on pace to set career highs in receptions and receiving yards, and his three touchdowns are already a career high. No. 3 receiver Nelson Agholor has just 22 targets all season, but Lamar Jackson has shown over the past two seasons that he trusts the veteran, who hit star cornerback Denzel Ward for a touchdown in Sunday’s loss to the Cleveland Browns.

The Ravens have used their 11 personnel, meaning three receivers on the field, less than 30 percent of the time this season. Tight ends Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and even Charlie Kolar have been involved in the passing offense, as has No. 2 running back Justice Hill. So it’s not like Jackson hurt guys to throw the ball to when general manager Eric DeCosta made this move.

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Todd Monken’s offense has been efficient, balanced and dynamic. The Ravens rank first in the NFL in offensive DVOA (defense-adjusted value above average), and Jackson is fifth in the league in passing yards. They also run the ball at a league-leading clip.

However, Johnson gives the Ravens another option for the defense to worry about. The 28-year-old had 30 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games for the struggling Panthers. In the previous five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Johnson averaged 78 catches and 873 receiving yards per year.

Johnson is divorcing. He can beat man-to-man coverage. He also has plenty of experience within the AFC North. With this move, the Ravens have at least improved their depth significantly and better protected themselves in the event that one of their top pass catchers goes down with a multi-week injury.

The only downside would be if Johnson, a pending free agent, laments his role. Baltimore’s current group of pass catchers has had to embrace an unselfish approach to an offense that relies heavily on the running ability of Jackson and Derrick Henry and spreading the ball around through the air. Six Ravens players have more than 10 catches.

Flowers, Bateman, Andrews and Likely have all had one or two goal games this season. To put that into perspective, Johnson is averaging more than eight goals per game. game in Carolina. It seems unlikely that he would reach that number consistently with the Ravens. Johnson hasn’t been shy at his past stops about complaining about touches, opportunities or quarterback play. He has also been criticized at various times for drops and not finishing plays.

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Of course, that won’t fly with a cohesive Ravens team and in a tight and loose locker room, so there’s potential for volatility with this arrangement. However, the Ravens have a history of bringing in outspoken guys with significant personalities and watching those players flourish in the culture of the organization. Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had no problem embracing it last season, even if he never got the touches he craved.

If that’s the biggest risk here, it’s worth taking. And did we mention the Ravens gave up almost nothing?

This is where “what’s next” comes into play. If the Ravens are awarded the maximum number of four compensatory picks they are expected to receive, they will still have as many as 11 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. So this deal with Carolina doesn’t affect the flexibility to trade more draft capital before the Nov. 5 deadline if they choose.

And since they’re on the hook for very little of Johnson’s salary, it also won’t be too prohibitive if the Ravens want to add another contract via a trade. The Ravens entered Tuesday with just under $4 million in salary cap space, according to the NFL Players Association’s Public Salary Cap Report, so that adds an element of difficulty to making a deal.

But Tuesday’s acquisition won’t significantly hinder the team’s efforts to add another piece, and it’s become pretty clear that help is needed on the other side of the ball. The Ravens pass defense has been a mess for much of the season. They don’t get consistent pressure on the quarterback. There are weekly coverage breakdowns and communication problems. An already thin defensive line has recently been plagued by injuries.

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Before Tuesday, it was widely believed that if the Ravens were to make a deal — and DeCosta always wants to be in the trade mix before the deadline — it would involve adding a pass rusher or defensive back. The addition of Johnson doesn’t change the team’s ability to do that.

In fact, it would be fair to question why the struggling defense was neglected if the only move DeCosta made was to acquire Johnson before the 4 p.m. But now? There isn’t much to question about the Johnson deal other than why not and what’s next?

(Photo: Jacob Kupferman / Associated Press)