The Panthers knew what they were getting from Diontae Johnson, who stayed true to form

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Last Thursday, in his final media encounter as a member of the Carolina Panthers, Diontae Johnson held his hoodie tightly around his head, spoke in a quiet voice and discussed whether he wanted to practice and/or play the rest of the week.

“It depends on how I feel,” Johnson said. “I come every day like I'm going to go out and practice depending on how I'm feeling. If it still hurts, I won't put myself at risk and keep trying to make things worse. I’ll just take it one day at a time and we’ll see on Sunday.”

Johnson no longer coached or played for the Panthers as it became increasingly clear that his days with the organization were coming to an end. The end of Johnson's seven-game cameo in Charlotte — even shorter than Frank Reich's — came Tuesday afternoon when the Panthers traded their leading receiver to the Baltimore Ravens along with a pick swap.

The Panthers received the Ravens' fifth-round pick in 2025 in exchange for the Panthers' sixth, which is a fairly small hole on the draft board given the direction both franchises are headed this year. Carolina will also assume about $2.9 million of the $3.5 million Johnson is owed for the remainder of the season. The Athletics Jeff Zrebiec reported.

Last Thursday was Diontae Johnson's final media encounter as a member of the Panthers. pic.twitter.com/UOTMViQRPM

— Joe Person (@josephperson) October 29, 2024

That's how ready Dan Morgan, Dave Canales and others were to move on from Johnson, who was dealt a week before the trade deadline and 7 1/2 months after the Panthers acquired him in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers for cornerback Donte Jackson another draft pick swap.

The Panthers knew what they were getting in Johnson: A receiver who could break out of coverage, but one who had a history of pouting when he didn't get the ball and throwing at his quarterbacks. The latter made Johnson an odd choice for Canales, an over-positive coach from the family of over-positive Pete Carroll who wants to establish a culture in Carolina.

But the Panthers were desperate to give Bryce Young receivers who could get open. When they decided not to extend Johnson, it always felt like a rental. But this was short even by the Panthers' standards.

The hope was that Johnson would look and act like a No. 1 receiver while playing for his next contract. Most of the time he did the former and less of the latter.

Johnson didn't hide his displeasure with Young's slow start and was better after Andy Dalton replaced Young in Week 3. During Dalton's first four starts, Johnson was targeted 43 times and had three games with at least 78 yards.

The good times didn't last.

After failing to practice before the Week 7 game at Washington, Johnson ran a poor route that resulted in an interception for Dalton, who responded by slamming his helmet and yelling on the sideline. Johnson finished the 40-7 loss, his final game in a Panthers uniform, with one catch (on three targets) for 17 yards.

Afterward, Johnson took no responsibility for the interception, instead shifting blame to others.

“I mean, frustrated,” Johnson said, “but I can't play every position on the field and make every play. “Everyone has to do their job when it counts.”

While the Panthers will clear the air of Johnson's diva vibes, they'll also jettison their most skilled receiver and best route runner. But they are 1-7 and wouldn't pay Johnson in the offseason. So giving him something (as poor as it was) and giving young receivers Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker more options with Young or Dalton isn't the worst idea.

If I were the GM, I would have seen whether a team more desperate for a receiver than Baltimore would have given me a fourth – or at least not asked for a sixth in return for their fifth. But rumor spread around the league that Morgan had put a “for sale” sign on Johnson, so he had little influence.

So Johnson returns to the AFC North with the Ravens, who acquired a Panthers receiver a decade ago to win another Super Bowl. Considering how Steve Smith took revenge on his old team with “blood and guts,” it's probably for the best that Baltimore isn't on the Panthers' schedule this year.

(Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)