It’s Diontae Johnson’s last season with the Carolina Panthers.
The wide receiver was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers this summer. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that after general manager Dan Morgan traded Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens, he has now returned to the AFC North immediately.
This scenario appeared plausible. With Carolina facing the prospect of yet another losing season, momentum was growing for a split. The Panthers decided to give Johnson something in exchange for his contract, which is slated to expire next spring, rather than letting him go for nothing.
The decision was the right one. After so much excitement over the offseason, it’s not what anyone expected, but Johnson will now join a club that has real chances of contending, and frustrations were growing within the building.
Diontae Johnson is traded by the Carolina Panthers to the Baltimore Ravens.
It’s quite a journey from Andy Dalton and Bryce Young to two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson. That is not going to make Johnson cry. As the Panthers proceed without their most successful route runner, he will be beaming from ear to ear.
It’s unclear if this is the beginning of a full-scale fire sale. In order to prepare for the 2025 offseason, Morgan needs to accumulate assets. Johnson was the most sought-after player, but the Panthers must have known the wideout wouldn’t be coming back because they gave up a sixth-round pick to get a fifth-round pick in exchange.
Johnson made a big splash when he joined the franchise. After such a bright beginning, his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers ended abruptly. The Panthers believed that this was the true No. 1 choice that would help Young reach new heights in 2024.
They were mistaken.
After two games, Young was benched due to his struggles. When Dalton came under center, Johnson’s output increased a little, but this momentum was short-lived. In an attempt to represent the AFC North in the Super Bowl, he will now try to establish an immediate bond with Pittsburgh Steelers.
What about the Panthers? The franchise has lots more to offer after the departure of another extremely effective star. It’s a sad situation that doesn’t seem to be improving.
And there might be more to come.