Diontae Johnson left behind one of the worst offenses in the league and took one of the best. (Ian Moll/Getty Images)
The Carolina Panthers will trade wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens, according to multiple media reports.
The trade reportedly involves an exchange of draft picks. The Ravens will send a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to Carolina. In return, the Panthers are sending Johnson along with a 2025 sixth-round pick.
This trade adds another offensive weapon to a Ravens unit that was arguably the best in the league through the first eight weeks of the season. Baltimore leads the league with 452.1 yards of offense per game and ranks second behind the Detroit Lions with 30.3 points per game.
Johnson joins a wide-ranging receiving corps that includes 2023 first-round pick Zai Flowers and 2021 first-round pick Rashod Bateman. Bateman is in the midst of a breakout season with 22 catches for 422 yards and three touchdowns through eight games.
Johnson, a former Pro Bowler with the Pittsburgh Steelers, played his first season with the Panthers. He was Carolina’s top receiver with 30 catches, 357 yards, and three touchdowns in seven games.
He left the league’s worst offensive line with quarterbacks Bryce Young and Andy Dalton to play with two-time MVP and favorite to win this year’s award, Lamar Jackson. Meanwhile, Baltimore is upgrading its already strong offense in exchange for a late draft pick.
After Sunday’s blowout loss to the Cleveland Browns, the Ravens fell to 5-3 and found themselves in the middle of the pack of AFC playoff contenders. They are 2.5 games behind the AFC-leading Kansas City Chiefs (7-0) and one game behind the 6-2 Steelers in the AFC North.
The Ravens host the Denver Broncos on Sunday and are scheduled to play district games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Steelers in Weeks 10 and 11.
