Diontae Johnson Trade is Even Worse for Panthers After Latest Reveal From Adam Schefter

After weeks of rumors and speculation, the Carolina Panthers finally decided to trade veteran wide receiver Diontae Johnson. The Panthers sent Johnson and a 2025 sixth-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens for a 2025 fifth-round pick.

It was a pick swap for both teams as the Ravens are getting a solid veteran wideout for the cheap, who was the best receiver on the trade block ahead of next week’s trade deadline. As you can imagine, Panthers fans weren’t happy with the incredibly low trade compensation.

Last weekend, it was reported that Carolina sought a mid-round pick in return for Johnson. But as we saw, they settled for a fifth and gave up their sixth-round pick. 

If that wasn’t bad enough, the Ravens, not the Panthers, will potentially reap the benefits of the veteran wide receiver being a free agent next season. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, if the former Panthers wide receiver signs a contract equivalent to $5 million a year, the Ravens will get a sixth-round pick back in 2026. 

On the latest episode of his podcast, Schefter said “There’s a real possibility the Ravens are going to get back a compensatory draft pick higher than the fifth-round pick that they gave up to Carolina.”

This is a good case of great GM work by the Ravens but bad GM work by Carolina. If they kept Johnson, which wasn’t likely, they would’ve received a comp pick if he signed elsewhere next year.

Now, the Ravens could get additional draft capital, which the Panthers need as they are stuck in a middling rebuild. With the NFL trade deadline only six days away, we’ll see if Carolina GM Dan Morgan will make any more moves to rebuild this roster.

More Panthers news and analysis: