Cat Scratch Reader
The Panthers continue a seasons long trend of jettisoning talent for little return
The Carolina Panthers are trading wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens. The writing was on the wall for Johnson, who was performing well on a bad team in a contract year, when he was a relatively healthy scratch over the last few weeks after rehabbing a rib injury sustained some weeks prior.
The Ravens are sending their 2025 fifth round draft pick to the Panthers in exchange for Johnson and a 2025 5th round draft pick. The Panthers originally acquired Johnson in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers that saw Carolina send their 2024 sixth (178th overall) and cornerback Donte Jackson to Pittsburgh for Johnson and the Steelers 2024 seventh (240th overall).
The Panthers used that 240th overall pick to select linebacker Michael Barrett, out of Michigan, who is currently out of the league.
The Panthers, at 1-7, are clearly out of post season contention and are focused now on getting whatever they can for players who have no future in Charlotte. Expect to see a little bit more of Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker on Sundays from here forwards, assuming the offense is on the field enough to be seen.
