How Ravens' Odd Move to Claim Diontae Johnson Again Will Help Them in Offseason

Baltimore just waived Johnson on Dec. 20.
Baltimore Ravens receiver Diontae Johnson warms up for a game.
Baltimore Ravens receiver Diontae Johnson warms up for a game. / Michael Owens/Getty Images

Diontae Johnson has had quite the 2024 season. After being waived by the Houston Texans on Tuesday after two games, the Baltimore Ravens claimed the receiver once again off waivers on Wednesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.

Johnson won't be able to officially join the Ravens until after the Super Bowl at this point, though, so he may never actually play another game for them. It seems like a strategic move for the Ravens more than anything, because Johnson is poised to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, meaning he can now be included in Baltimore’s compensatory pick formula. This gives the team more opportunities to earn draft picks in 2026.

The Ravens acquired Johnson the first time this season on Oct. 29 ahead of the trade deadline from the Carolina Panthers. He had a tumultuous stint in Baltimore as he served a suspension due to "conduct detrimental to the team." The wide receiver reportedly refused to enter the game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 1, resulting in the suspension which was announced on Dec. 4. Johnson was later waived by the Ravens on Dec. 20.

Although Johnson only caught one pass from Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson during his short, nearly two-month stint in Baltimore, he will be helping the Ravens more this offseason. We'll see if another NFL team wants to give Johnson a shot on their roster in 2025.


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Madison Williams
MADISON WILLIAMS

Madison Williams is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated, where she specializes in tennis but covers a wide range of sports from a national perspective. Before joining SI in 2022, Williams worked at The Sporting News. Having graduated from Augustana College, she completed a master’s in sports media at Northwestern University. She is a dog mom and an avid reader.