The Carolina Panthers acquired wide receiver Diontae Johnson via an offseason trade, but the former third-round pick might not last a full season with his current team. This is through no fault of Johnson himself, as the wide receiver remains a reliable player. However, he is entering the final year of his contract and, barring an extension, will test the open market at the start of the 2025 league year. While Carolina could try to extend him, recent reports indicate that isn’t likely.
According to Joseph Person of The Athletic, the Carolina Panthers have yet to discuss an extension with the wide receiver. This means that Diontae Johnson will likely leave the team after this season, which only increases the odds of a trade. Despite all the offseason additions, Week 1’s blowout loss suggests the Carolina Panthers are going nowhere fast in 2024. This team is about to embrace yet another rebuild, and their long-term future looks better with a draft pick than a half-season of Johnson. Several contenders could use his services, but none more than the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers.
Ravens, Chargers Could Trade For Diontae Johnson
Based on Week 1’s action, the Baltimore Ravens will need another wide receiver to complement Zay Flowers. The 2023 first-round pick finished the night with an impressive 10 targets, but only those opportunities into six receptions for 37 yards and one first down. Lamar Jackson admittedly didn’t have his best day at the office, but Flowers might be one of those players who is better when he has someone else to attract the defense’s attention. Maybe Rashod Bateman can fill this role, but a Diontae Johnson trade would ensure Baltimore has a player capable of handling a high target share.
Diontae Johnson has been one of the league’s more consistent receivers despite playing with arguably the worst collection of quarterbacks of any major receiver. Since 2019, the Toledo product had to endure Mason Rudolph, a washed-up Ben Roethlisberger, Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, and now Bryce Young throwing him the ball. A trade could bring out the best in Diontae Johnson, as Lamar Jackson is an immeasurably better quarterback than any name on that list.
More Help For Justin Herbert
The Los Angeles Chargers Week 1 triumph over the Las Vegas Raiders was something out of Jim Harbaugh’s dreams. The team ran the ball well, played strong defense, and controlled both sides of the line of scrimmage. However, the 22-10 victory showed the Chargers still need help at wide receiver. Rookie Ladd McConkey performed well with five receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown, but the rest of the depth chart leaves a lot to be desired. Quentin Johnston did not impress, and a Diontae Johnson trade could add some much-needed security to this passing attack.
Johnson is not a superstar, but he’d easily be the best receiver in this offense. It might not be enough to keep up with the Kansas City Chiefs on a blow-for-blow basis, but a Diontae Johnson trade would help the team secure a playoff birth in their first season under Harbaugh’s regime.
Main Photo: Stephen Lew – USA Today Sports
