Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver is returning to the AFC North
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be seeing an old friend soon, but that will come on the opposing sideline, as Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson has been traded to the Baltimore Ravens.
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Ravens are getting Johnson and a 2025 sixth-round pick and the Panthers are receiving a 2025 fifth-rounder for the former Pro Bowler.
Of course, Johnson was a 2019 third-round pick of the Steelers and spent the first five seasons of his career in Pittsburgh. He tallied 391 receptions for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns in that span.
His best season came in 2021, when he tallied career-highs in receptions (107), yards (1,161) and touchdowns, leading to a Pro Bowl nod. Unfortunately, things went downhill from there.
Johnson became disgruntled in Pittsburgh because of the ugly situation the team had on offense thanks to lackluster quarterback play and downright awful play-calling. As a result, the Steelers parted ways with Johnson during the offseason, trading him to Carolina in exchange for cornerback Donte Jackson and a pick swap.
The Ravens and Steelers have yet to play this season, so Johnson will be seeing his former mates twice over the second half of the campaign. The Steelers host the Ravens in Week 11, and then Baltimore will be the home team in Week 16.
Through eight weeks, the Steelers currently sit in first place in the AFC North at 6-2, and the Ravens are right behind them at 5-3. The Steelers are on a bye in Week 9, while the Ravens are playing the Denver Broncos.
The Steelers are in the market for a wide receiver themselves, but Johnson wasn’t an option, as an NFL rule prevents a team from reacquiring a player via trade it traded away for two years from the date of the deal.