Ravens claim Diontae Johnson, who is ineligible to play in these playoffs

Diontae Johnson is back with the Ravens. Sort of.

The Ravens claimed Johnson today after he was placed on waiver by the Texans yesterday. But under NFL rules, Johnson is not eligible to play for the rest of the playoffs and is not officially on the Ravens’ roster until after the Super Bowl. And Johnson becomes a free agent in March, so he really won’t be a part of the Ravens in any meaningful way.

So why claim Johnson? From the Ravens’ perspective, it probably has to do with compensatory picks. If Johnson signs with another team in free agency, he will count as a player lost by the Ravens in the compensatory draft formula, which awards picks to teams that lose more players than they sign. So maybe Johnson’s contract with another team will allow the Ravens to land a late compensatory pick in 2026. The Ravens are still one of the most forward-thinking NFL teams when it comes to compensatory picks, and this is another example.

A third-round pick of the Steelers in 2019, Johnson has looked like a very talented and promising receiver at times. But his career went off the rails in 2024, when he was first traded from the Steelers to the Panthers, then from the Panthers to the Ravens, then cut by the Ravens and claimed by the Texans, and now cut by the Texans and claimed by the Crows.

He will attempt to sign somewhere in 2025. Depending on what type of contract he signs, the Ravens could benefit in 2026.