Jamison Hensley, ESPN Writer Oct 29, 2024, 2:11pm ET
CloseJamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, where he covered the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens starting in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association’s Maryland Sports Writer of the Year Award in 2018 and has authored the book, Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Baltimore Sun’s Ravens staff writer from 2000-11.
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens quarterback and the NFL’s No. 1 running back, Lamar Jackson, has landed an experienced target who can provide another dimension to the passing attack.
The Ravens have agreed in principle to trade Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson, pending a physical, the team announced Tuesday. The Ravens will send a fifth-round pick to the Panthers to select Johnson and Carolina in the sixth round, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
It’s the second time Johnson has been traded this year. The Panthers acquired Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens’ AFC North rival, before the season. Johnson will become the third wide receiver since 2000 to catch a pass as a Raven and Steeler, according to ESPN research, joining Mike Wallace and Myles Boykin.
Date to acquire player by October 29 Deontae Johnson RavensOctober. 23. DeAndre Hopkins, October Chiefs. 15 Amari Cooper Bills October 15. Davante Adams Jets – ESPN Research
Johnson indicated to ESPN last month that he would like to re-sign with the Panthers (1-7) after the season. But as losses mounted and frustration mounted, it became clear that Johnson was open to moving on.
He did not play in Carolina’s 28-14 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday due to a rib injury he played with the previous week, prompting coach Dave Canales to ask if the decision to sit the receiver had anything to do with keeping him healthy for trade value.
Canales referred the matter to general manager Dan Morgan and Brandt Telles, executive vice president of football operations.
Baltimore can pair Johnson with Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman to spread out defenses more frequently. The Ravens used three or more wide receivers on 163 plays, the second-lowest percentage in the NFL.
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Jackson is having his best season as a passer, throwing for 2,099 yards, which ranks fifth in the NFL this season. His 9.7 yards per attempt when targeting a wide receiver is third-best behind Sam Darnold (10.7) and Jared Goff (9.7).
Where Johnson can help Jackson the most is on throws near the sideline. Ravens wide receivers have combined for 29 passes thrown outside the numbers this season, the third-fewest in the NFL, according to ESPN research. Since entering the NFL in 2019, Johnson has made a total of 242 passes outside the numbers, sixth-most in the league during that span.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta continues his very aggressive approach to developing the team during the season. This marks the fourth in-season trade for DeCosta over the past six seasons. His previous acquisitions include cornerback Marcus Peters (2019), defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (2020) and middle linebacker Roquan Smith (2022).
The Panthers in March gave Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson a sixth-round pick to Johnson and a seventh-round pick in the 2024 draft.
Johnson was brought in to improve quarterback Bryce Young, but they combined for just five receptions for 34 yards during an 0-2 start that led to a top 2023 draft pick in Andy Dalton.
Johnson caught eight passes for 122 yards and a touchdown in Dalton’s debut, a win over the Las Vegas Raiders. He had 15 passes for 205 yards in two games but caught just 10 passes for 123 yards over the next three games.
With Johnson gone, Carolina’s roster of receivers will include veteran Adam Thielen, who is coming off a hamstring injury, first-round picks Xavier Leggett, Jonathan Mingo, David Moore and undrafted rookie Jalen Coker.
ESPN’s David Newton contributed to this report.
