Baltimore Beatdown
Some are calling the Ravens’ trade for WR Diontae Johnson “larceny.” But all are reacting positively for the Ravens in the trade.
On Tuesday, well ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline, the Baltimore Ravens made the decision to add another wide receiver to their roster. General manager Eric DeCosta made a deal with the Carolina Panthers and Diontae Johnson packed his bags and headed to Charm City.
The move came a day after the Kansas City Chiefs made their second midseason trade that generated frustration from impatient Ravens fans annoyed with watching the back-to-back champions further strengthening their undefeated roster.
The Ravens made the savvy trade that includes a near pick-swap with the Panthers, giving them the Ravens’ expected late-in-the-round fifth-round pick while acquiring both Johnson and the Panthers’ sixth-round pick. Better yet, the Panthers are expected to pay the bulk of Johnson’s remaining salary; the Ravens will pay ~$625k to Johnson for the remainder of the season.
Here’s what national analysts, hosts and other media personalities had to say about the trade.
SB Nation’s **Joseph Acosta: “**Giving up a Day 3 draft pick for a quality receiver is always good business. The Ravens still needed to add some more pop to their offense, and Johnson can create separation in bunches. His 62 Open Score is 34th among all qualifying receivers, per ESPN, and while his Catch Score might not be as potent, those numbers will go up with a real QB under center in Baltimore. The Ravens play a lot of 21 and 22 personnel, so adding Johnson would mean potentially taking off either Zay Flowers or Rashod Bateman, but when the Ravens want to spread out and go 11 personnel, this makes them even more dangerous. A fantastic trade with little risk added.”
The Baltimore Sun’s Childs Walker: This wasn’t the move we expected from a team that already leads the league in passing efficiency. The Ravens need players who can break up deep balls more than they need another guy who can catch them. That said, Johnson has been a durable, productive receiver throughout his six-year career, and he’ll give Lamar Jackson another target who can punish blitzes and make plays in the red zone. The Ravens didn’t give up much to get him and better yet, they kept Johnson away from AFC rivals that might immediately plug him in as a starter. Jackson will have a lot of hands to feed, and this could lead to renewed questions about the size of Rashod Bateman’s role. But it’s a low-downside addition.
The Baltimore Sun’s Sam Cohn: That’s a good deal considering the Ravens gave up next to nothing to add a former Pro Bowl receiver and the Panthers are paying most of his salary. He’s 28 years old and has caught 30 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games this season. Johnson only adds to what this team continually refers to as a “pick-your-poison” offense. That being said, the trade deadline is still a...
