Ravens claim disgruntled WR Diontae Johnson with eye on adding draft pick

Sam Cohn, The Baltimore Sun on Jan 15, 2025

Published in Football

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BALTIMORE — Diontae Johnson is a Raven again. No, that’s not a typo.

The 28-year-old wide receiver, who was released by both the Ravens and Houston Texans in a matter of weeks after being frustrated by a lack of involvement in the offense on both teams, was claimed off waivers Wednesday by Baltimore in what is considered a procedural reunion.

Johnson is not eligible to join the Ravens until Monday, Feb. 10, one business day after the Super Bowl — whether Baltimore plays for the Lombardi Trophy or not. But he qualifies as an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and if he signs with another team, he’ll likely yield a compensatory pick for Ravens in the 2026 NFL draft.

It’s unlikely that Johnson, who is ineligible to play this postseason, physically returns to Owings Mills.

The move — as bizarre as it is — could benefit the Ravens in the offseason. But any return on investment hinges on another team giving a contract to a player who suited up for four teams in one calendar year and was released by the latter two. Baltimore suspended the one-time Pro Bowl selection for “conduct detrimental to the team” in December after he refused to enter an eventual 24-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at M&T Bank Stadium, and he was later excused from team activities before being released.

Johnson, a 2019 third-round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers, caught one pass during his two-month stint in Baltimore after the Ravens acquired him before the trade deadline from the Carolina Panthers in a swap of late-round draft picks. He caught three more in a pair of games with the Texans, including one in Saturday’s wild-card win over the Los Angeles Chargers, but was reportedly upset in the locker room after the game.

“With Diontae, unfortunately it didn’t work out and we’re on to the Chiefs,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Tuesday.

Johnson will not be filling Baltimore’s potential wide receiver void should Zay Flowers (knee) be unavailable for Sunday night’s AFC divisional round game against the Buffalo Bills. But if another team scoops Johnson up after the season, maybe the Ravens get something out of the deal.

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