### Ravens Bolster Offense with Trade for Panthers’ Diontae Johnson

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- In a strategic move to boost their already top-ranking offense, the Baltimore Ravens have acquired wide receiver Diontae Johnson from the Carolina Panthers. This trade, which involves an exchange of draft picks, sees the Ravens sending a fifth-round pick to the Panthers in return for Johnson and a sixth-round pick, sources informed ESPN's Adam Schefter.

This marks Johnson’s second trade within a span of one year. Initially traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Panthers before the start of the season, Johnson has now moved to an AFC North rival. His upcoming stint with the Ravens will place him alongside notable receivers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman, providing quarterback Lamar Jackson additional skilled options to exploit defenses more consistently.

Jackson is enjoying his most productive season to date, accumulating 2,099 passing yards, positioning him fifth in the league. With 9.7 yards per passing attempt when targeting wide receivers, Jackson's efficiency trails only behind Sam Darnold and Jared Goff. Johnson's specialty in sideline catches will be particularly beneficial to Jackson. Ravens’ wide receivers have managed only 29 catches on outside throws, a statistic that ranks third lowest in the NFL. Johnson, on the other hand, has recorded 242 such catches since 2019, making him the sixth-best in the league for that play style.

Despite expressing a desire to extend his tenure with the 1-7 Panthers, Johnson's frustration with the season's progress made him open to a new opportunity. He was sidelined during Carolina's recent 28-14 loss to the Denver Broncos due to a rib injury, which also led to speculation about his trade prospects.

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta, known for making assertive in-season trades, highlighted his relentless pursuit to strengthen the team. This trade for Johnson is DeCosta’s fourth in the last six years, following previous deals for cornerback Marcus Peters in 2019, defensive end Yannick Ngakoue in 2020, and middle linebacker Roquan Smith in 2022.

Meanwhile, the Panthers had hoped Johnson would aid rookie quarterback Bryce Young, though their partnership yielded modest results initially. Johnson's best performance came with Andy Dalton, where he recorded eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown in Dalton's debut. Carolina’s receiving lineup now rests on veteran Adam Thielen, rookie Xavier Legette, Jonathan Mingo, David Moore, and Jalen Coker.

In summary, the trade for Diontae Johnson signifies the Ravens' commitment to deepening their offensive prowess as they continue to build on a successful season.