The Carolina Panthers have been active since the start of the legal tampering period. After finishing with the worst record in football, the team aggressively signed Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis to massive contracts, securing an offensive line that seemed like it was actively trying to kill Bryce Young last year. While they lost Brian Burns and Frankie Luvu, they reinforced the defense with interior lineman A’Shawn Robinson and linebacker Josey Jewell. While they made plenty of big signings, their biggest out-of-nowhere move was pulling off a trade for wide receiver Diontae Johnson.
Entering the final season of his deal, there were some whispers that Diontae Johnson wanted a trade. You don’t need to be a body language expert to see that he was sick and tired of Pittsburgh, and the Steelers saved a decent amount of cap space by parting ways with the receiver. Overall, the Panthers sent cornerback Donte Jackson and a sixth-round pick (178th overall) in exchange for Johnson and a seventh-round pick (240th overall).
TRADE: Steelers trading WR Diontae Johnson to Panthers for CB Donte Jackson and a pick swap. (via @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/tl17qigYPW
— NFL (@NFL) March 12, 2024
Which Side Won the Diontae Johnson Trade?
The Case For the Panthers Winning Diontae Johnson Trade
The Carolina Panthers needed a wide receiver in the worst way. Bryce Young had a disastrous rookie season, but no rookie quarterback would have succeeded in this environment. Playing with the worst collection of pass-catching talent in the league and an interior offensive line that couldn’t block anyone, the Panthers had a lot of work to do to improve this unit.
While they could have overspent at wide receiver, the team decided to trade for Diontae Johnson instead. Say what you will about his questionable work ethic and inconsistent hands, but Johnson knows how to get open. The Panthers were the worst in the league at creating separation last year, and Johnson should immediately fill a massive need in this offense.
The Panthers WR could not get open last season. That is Diontae Johnson's specialty. #ReceptionPerception pic.twitter.com/ijvXEjf8tC
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) March 12, 2024
One of the reasons the Diontae Johnson trade was such a smart move for the Panthers is that the former third-round pick knows how to be the top option in a passing attack. The wideout has recorded at least a 23% target share in every season since he entered the league, and the Panthers need someone who can handle a heavy workload.
The biggest red flag with this trade is how Diontae Johnson will act to being on a subpar team. Even if every single signing the Panthers made works out, this team is still a year or two away from competing. Can Johnson remain engaged while playing on a below-average team? Only time will tell for sure.
Is Donte Jackson Worth It?
The Panthers got a good player in the Diontae Johnson trade, but is Donte Jackson enough to justify the move? Joey Porter Jr. showed some promise as a rookie, but the rest of the cornerback depth chart needs some work. Donte Jackson isn’t going to win First-Team All-Pro honors any time soon, but he is a solid starter. According to Pro Football Focus, the cornerback finished the season with the 63rd-best grade out of 127 eligible players.
The biggest issue with Jackson is the money. The Carolina Panthers were reportedly planning on releasing the cornerback for space, so the Steelers could’ve just waited and got Donte Jackson without having to trade Diontae Johnson.
While the Steelers might have been able to get more out of a Diontae Johnson trade, at the end of the day, both teams got solid players at positions of need.
Main Photo: Kareem Elgazzar – USA Today Sports
