Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff Writer Oct 29, 2024, 2:11pm ET
Close Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011 and covered the AFC North, before focusing on the Ravens in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year Award in 2018 and wrote a book titled “Flying High: A Baltimore Story.” Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000 to 2011.
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and the NFL’s No. 1 offense have acquired an experienced target who will bring another dimension to their passing attack.
The Ravens have agreed in principle to trade wide receiver Diontae Johnson from the Carolina Panthers, pending a physical exam, the team announced Tuesday. Carolina announced that the Ravens would send a fifth-round pick to the Panthers for Johnson and Carolina’s sixth-round pick.
According to league sources, the Panthers have two teams interested in Johnson, with the Ravens acquiring him late last week.
This is the second time this year that Johnson has been traded. The Panthers acquired Johnson from the Ravens’ AFC North rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, before the season. According to ESPN Research, Johnson is the third wide receiver since 2000 to catch a pass as a Raven and Steeler, joining Mike Wallace and Myles Boykin.
Date Player Acquired October 29 Diontae Johnson Ravens October 23 DeAndre Hopkins Secretary October 15 Amari Cooper Bills October 15 Davante Adams Jets –ESPN Research
Johnson told ESPN last month that he would like to re-sign with the Panthers (1-7) after the season. But as the losses mounted and frustration mounted, it became clear that Johnson was willing to move on.
He missed Carolina’s 28-14 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday because of a rib injury he suffered playing last week, but coach Dave Canales said his decision to play receiver has been linked to keeping him. I was asked if it was. The trade value is healthy.
Canales’ appointment falls to general manager Dan Morgan and vice president of football operations Brant Tillis.
Baltimore could combine Johnson with Zai Flowers and Rashod Bateman to spread out the defense more often. The Ravens used three or more wide receivers on 163 plays, second-fewest in the NFL.
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Jackson is having his best season as a passer, throwing for 2,099 yards this season, which ranks fifth in the NFL. His 9.7 yards per attempt targeting wide receivers ranks third behind Sam Darnold (10.7) and Jared Goff (9.7).
Where Johnson can help Jackson the most is with throws near the sideline. According to ESPN Research, Ravens wide receivers have caught 29 passes this season, the third-fewest in the NFL. Since entering the NFL in 2019, Johnson has totaled 242 catches for non-numeric passes, the sixth-most in the league during that span.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta remains very active in upgrading the team during the season. This is DeCosta’s fourth in-season trade in the past six seasons. His previous acquisitions include cornerback Marcus Peters (2019), defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (2020) and middle linebacker Roquan Smith (2022).
In March, the Panthers traded Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson for Johnson, a sixth-round pick and a seventh-round pick in the 2024 draft.
Johnson was brought in to shore up quarterback Bryce Young, but after an 0-2 start, he had just five receptions for 34 yards and is a 2023 No. 1 draft pick. He was placed on the bench in favor of Andy Dalton.
Johnson caught eight passes for 122 yards and one touchdown in a win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Dalton’s debut. He had 15 catches for 205 yards in two consecutive games, but caught only 10 passes for 123 yards in the next three games.
With Johnson gone, Carolina’s receiving corps includes veteran Adam Thielen, who is returning from a hamstring injury, first-round picks Xavier Leggett, Jonathan Mingo, David Moore, and undrafted rookie Jalen.・Coker will be added.
ESPN’s David Newton contributed to this report.
