The Baltimore Ravens are one of the best teams in the NFL and are trying to get even better. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is not known for having great receivers, but this year he has options. Wide receiver Zay Flowers has established himself as the number-one option on the team, while Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor play a supporting role. Jackson also has Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews, two big-time tight ends. Although Baltimore has a plethora of receivers, there are questions about their reliability in big moments. After a devastating loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 8, Baltimore felt the need to make a roster-bolstering move in the form of wide receiver Diontae Johnson. Johnson has been a good receiver, but how much will the Ravens’ new addition move the needle for the offense?
Baltimore has been on a mission to build a championship roster which started with the off-season addition of Derrick Henry. That signing has proven paramount as the Ravens now have the best backfield in the league. The pairing of Jackson and Henry has been historic thus far, but Baltimore felt they needed more help in the pass-catching department. Baltimore is 5-3, with each of the three losses coming by one score. Baltimore hopes the addition of Johnson can help swing the result of close games.
Does Ravens’ New Addition Diontae Johnson Move Needle for Offense?
The Baltimore Ravens added former Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson. Baltimore did not have to break the bank to acquire Johnson, as they sent a fifth-round pick to the Panthers for Johnson and Carolina’s sixth-round selection. The Ravens want extra help at receiver, and Johnson can be a great addition. Although the Panthers are struggling to find their footing, Johnson has made the best of the situation. Through seven games, Johnson has 30 receptions, 357 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. Johnson is a sure fit in Baltimore, as the Ravens have been searching for a legitimate deep threat.
The move is slightly surprising as Rashod Bateman is having the best season of his career. Bateman already has more receiving yards through eight games this season than he had all of last season. Bateman has become one of Lamar Jackson’s favorite red-zone targets, as he is more reliable than in prior seasons. With the addition of Johnson, there will likely be a battle for the second slot on the depth chart receiver spot between him and Johnson. Flowers is undoubtedly number one and shows flashes of superstardom as he enters his prime.
Johnson Through the Years
Diontae Johnson was drafted in 2019 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he spent the first five seasons of his career. Johnson’s rookie season showed potential, as he played in 16 games and caught for 680 yards. In Johnson’s second season, he raised the bar even more, posting 923 receiving yards. 2021 was Johnson’s best season, as he posted 1,000 receiving yards, cementing himself as a legitimate threat to any defense. In 2022 and 2023, Johnson amassed 882 and 717 receiving yards before being traded to the Panthers in 2024. Johnson has never endured a losing season in his career and was luckily shipped to Baltimore before Carolina could jeopardize that streak.
Main Photo: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
