Panthers Send Diontae Johnson to NFC South Rival in Projected Trade

When you are 1-6 heading into the NFL trade deadline like the Carolina Panthers, it's only natural that trade speculations would emerge surrounding your best players. Now that it's obvious that the Panthers aren't going anywhere once again, there is an expectation that GM Dan Morgan would move on from the veterans with trade value to set the organization up for the draft.

One of the veterans with trade value is talented wide receiver Diontae Johnson. Despite the miserable offensive ecosystem in Carolina, Johnson has been producing at a high level, putting up 357 receiving yards and three touchdowns in seven games. The 28-year-old is in the final year of his contract, making him an obvious trade candidate.

In fact, it has already been reported by Adam Schefter that Johnson is the most desirable wide receiver on the trade block and the Panthers are already taking calls. One of the teams that is surely interested in Johnson is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Panthers Send WR Diontae Johnson to Buccaneers in Projected Trade

The NFC South rivals recently lost star receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to serious injuries. Godwin will miss the rest of the season and Evans will be out for at least a month. Naturally, rumors about them targeting receivers in the trade market have surfaced.

The fans and media members alike have speculated about the Bucs trading for Johnson. Grayson Hodges of The Wright Way Network is one of them.

The Panthers acquired Johnson in the offseason in exchange for cornerback Donte Jackson and a sixth-round pick. They would almost certainly get more in return now. From the Buccaneers, a trade package involving a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft is a reasonable return. This could even go up to a third-rounder given Tampa Bay's desperation with the Panthers potentially sending a sixth-rounder back.

Johnson seemingly has multiple suitors. This will help with the draft capital the Panthers will get for him. In a lost season, that will be one of the few silver linings.

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