Ravens claim Diontae Johnson; WR will not play in playoffs

The last round Diontae JohnsonJourneyman’s 2024 season came to a halt yesterday when he was waived by the Texans. The veteran’s future for the remainder of the campaign is now settled.

Johnson was claimed off waivers by the Ravens on Wednesday, according to the transaction wire (with ESPN’s Adam Schefter). To be clear, this is simply a procedural step; he will not play for Baltimore for the remainder of the playoffs. Like all players cut this time of year, Johnson won’t be officially assigned to the team until after the Super Bowl.

As a Raven once the league year ends, Johnson leaving on the open market could put Baltimore in contention for a compensatory pick in 2026. More immediately, the move keeps the 28-year-old from becoming a top-eight free agent remaining teams in the playoffs. Had Johnson cleared waivers, an interested suitor could have brought him in as a depth option on offense.

Given how this campaign has gone, of course, it would have been surprising if any team had been particularly eager to bring in Johnson for the final stretch. The former Steeler was traded to the Panthers this offseason, and his early production with Carolina was remarkable considering the team’s offensive struggles. As the trade deadline approached, it became clear that a deal sending the pending free agent elsewhere was likely, and he was sent to Baltimore.

This decision, however, resulted in sparse usage, something Johnson took issue with. After making only four appearances with the Ravens, he was waived and claimed by the Texans as part of their effort to replace the injured man. Steve Diggs And Dell Tank. Johnson only played in one game during the regular season before entering last week’s wild-card contest, and his playing time (or lack thereof) was once again an issue. The Toledo product’s latest departure isn’t a surprise and it makes what will already be a very bad free agent market worse this spring.

Now, Johnson will be able to look toward free agency in March. Once his two-year contract worth $36.71 million expires, it will be interesting to see how many teams are willing to consider signing him.