Diontae Johnson has already been traded once in the past seven months. If the Panthers continue to head the wrong way in the standings, teams believe the veteran wideout could once again be on the move.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, rival teams are on “high alert” in anticipation of the Panthers being sellers at the trade deadline. While Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams will be the main prize for WR-needy squads, there’s a belief that Johnson could be a worthy backup plan.
The Panthers sent the Steelers Donte Jackson and a sixth-round pick for the receiver back in March, with Carolina hoping that the acquisition could provide Bryce Young with a steady veteran pass catcher. Things have obviously changed since the season began, as the former first-overall pick has been temporarily benched in favor of veteran Andy Dalton.
The Panthers won their first game with Dalton at the helm but lost last Sunday, dropping the team’s record to 1-3. While the veteran QB may provide a temporary offensive improvement, it still might not be enough to elevate the Panthers out of the NFL’s cellar. If the team continues to collect losses, it’d only be natural for the front office to pawn off some of their impending free agents.
Johnson would undeniably be a popular rental piece. The former third-round pick had three-straight 80-plus-catch seasons between 2020 and 2022, including a 2021 campaign where he earned a Pro Bowl nod after hauling in 107 catches for 1,161 yards and eight scores. Thanks in part to injuries and inconsistent QB play, Johnson had one of his least productive campaigns in 2023, finishing with a career-low 51 receptions.
Despite Carolina’s quarterback issues, Johnson has rebounded in 2024, with his 59.8 yards-per-game mark representing his highest average since his 2021 campaign. As Fowler notes, Johnson could easily slide in as a team’s WR1 or WR2, which should make him a popular target for any squad that needs receiving help.
Trading Johnson could also benefit the Panthers as they look to evaluate their younger pieces. While 2023 second-round pick Jonathan Mingo and 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette aren’t necessarily buried on the depth chart, they’re not getting a full workload thanks to the presence of Johnson. The team is also rostering UDFA Jalen Coker, while the likes of David Moore and Adam Thielen (who is currently on IR) could provide the veteran option the Panthers clearly desire.
Christ bills and giants get the Carolina gm on the phone lmao!!!
Steelers could use him.
Yeah, I think…oh, waiiiit a minute…
Carolina needs to be evaluating their entire team at this moment, as not doing so guarantees they won’t be getting better NEXT year either. Keeping Johnson on the roster helps with that evaluation.
The other teams in the league conduct evaluations…the Panthers perform a seasonal autopsy.
Best value WR 1 of the 2025 UFA WR’s
Because he’s not much of a WR1. He’s a great 2 though.
He and Pickens actually would have made a great combo if they were on a team that threw the ball 35 times a game.
Agreed. Johnson is a good receiver, but he’s not a WR1 at his most effective spot. He has speed, but not enough to compensate for a lack of size there to play outside every game. He can move around and be quite effective, however, from multiple spots. I do think that he pairs best with another receiver of good size that plays an X sort of role on the outside-it gives the defense two different threats to defend from.
As for Johnson…how would he play after a trade? His discontent was a minor problem in Pittsburgh (some of it understandably so), and he tried to bet a big deal before being traded, and wasn’t quite successful. Would Johnson produce for a new team, absent a new deal for next year?
Agreed.
I think he’d produce simply because of the market. Play well, cash in. Only contenders would be trading for him. Panthers would prefer to get him out of the NFC I’m sure. Chance to catch passes from Mahomes or Allen or Rodgers or Herbert? I think he’d be pretty content.
You’ll notice I left of Lamar. Not sure he’d be jazzed about catching passes from a running back. Also like to think he wouldn’t want to wear purple so soon after black n gold…
Why would the Panthers prefer to get him out of the NFC? You only do that so to not arm your rivals. The Panthers won’t be competing anytime soon so it really doesn’t matter. Take the best offer
I’m not sure you understand the definition of “prefer”.
But honestly that tracks with the rest of your posts, so I’m not going to sweat it.
You’re the one that brought up prefer. I don’t think the Panthers care where they trade him to. Highest bidder. It’s not like teams don’t trade players within the conference. You have your sports mixed up pussykat
Yes, and if the “highest bidder” is 3 teams offering essentially the same thing then I think they’d send him to the AFC.
“Prefer.”
Better yet maybe offer the owner up for trade requesting 2 cheerleaders and a mascot uniform.
To show you what a joke Keyshawn Johnson is…he claimed a couple years back that this was the best WR In football
If the Panthers are seriously considering using Young again later in the season, they should keep Johnson around, Young isn’t going to get any better if he doesn’t have good receivers to work with.
OTOH, if they have given up on Young, getting a draft pick might be a good move.