Panthers trade WR Diontae Johnson to Ravens

The Carolina Panthers are trading wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens confirmed the deal on Tuesday while noting that the trade was contingent on Johnson completing a physical exam.

According to multiple reports, the trade involves a draft pick swap. The Ravens are sending a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to Carolina. In return, the Panthers are sending a sixth-round pick in 2025 alongside Johnson.

The trade adds a new offensive weapon to a Ravens unit that was arguably the best in the league through the first eight weeks of the season. Baltimore leads the league with 452.1 yards of offense per game and is second to the Detroit Lions with 30.3 points per game.

Johnson joins a wide receiving corps that includes 2023 first-round pick Zay Flowers and 2021 first-round pick Rashod Bateman, who is in the middle of a season with 22 catches for 422 yards and three touchdowns in eight games Breakout season.

A former Pro Bowler for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Johnson played in his first season with the Panthers. In seven games, he was Carolina's leading receiver with 30 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns.

He leaves behind an offense that is one of the league's worst with Bryce Young and Andy Dalton at quarterback and plays with Lamar Jackson, the two-time MVP and leading candidate to win this year's award. Baltimore, meanwhile, is improving its already potent offense in exchange for a late-round draft pick swap.

With a surprising loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, the Ravens fell to 5-3 and find themselves in the middle of the AFC playoff contenders. They are 2.5 games behind the AFC-leading Kansas City Chiefs (7-0) and one game behind the Steelers at 6-2 in the AFC North standings.

The Ravens are scheduled to host the Denver Broncos on Sunday before division games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Steelers in Weeks 10 and 11.