Diontae Johnson landing spots: 3 teams that could sign ex-Ravens WR
The Diontae Johnson debacle in Baltimore is officially over. The Baltimore Ravens announced on Friday they released the wide recevier.
The Ravens acquired Johnson from the Carolina Panthers before the trade deadline in early November. After recording 30 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games with the Panthers, Johnson caught one pass on six targets in four games with the Ravens.
Frustrated with his snap count in a contract year, Johnson refused to enter the Ravens' game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13. As a result, the team announced he would be suspended from their Week 15 game against the New York Giants following a Week 14 bye.
Johnson's release comes a day before the Ravens' Week 16 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Three teams that could possibly sign Diontae Johnson
With the Ravens releasing Johnson, he will now be free to claim on waivers. If he does clear waivers, he will be a free agent.
ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter thinks Johnson could be claimed by Monday.
"Diontae Johnson now will go on waivers and can be claimed Monday at 4 pm ET. There is, in the opinion of some, a reasonable chance that Johnson will be claimed Monday."
With just three games left in the regular season, it makes senese for a playoff team, specifically one that is thin at the wide recevier, to take a chance on Johnson.
Here are three teams that could take a chance on signing Diontae Johnson.
#1 - Pittsburgh Steelers
Home sweet home. If the Pittsburgh Steelers are up for it, maybe a reunion could be possible for Johnson. He was selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Steelers, and had some early success in his career with them.
With George Pickens battling a hamstring injury, the Steelers are very thin at the wide recevier position, with no other wideout having over 500 yards. Johnson could be another body in the receiver room as the Steelers make a playoff run.
#2 - Washington Commanders
Like the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Washington Commanders (outside of their No. 1 wide recevier, Terry McLaurin) don't have another wide recevier on their team with more than 500 yards. In fact, tight end Zach Ertz is the only player on the team aside from McLaurin with more than 500 yards.
Noah Brown has been a solid option, having 35 catches for 453 yards and one touchdown this season. Washington will likely make the playoffs as a wildcard team and adding another receiver like Johnson wouldn't hurt them.
#3 - Kansas City Chiefs
Could the rich get even richer? The Kansas City Chiefs did so when they acquired DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans before this year's trade deadline. The Chiefs also recently activated Marquise "Hollywood" Brown for Saturday's game against the Houston Texans. Brown will be making his Kansas City debut.
The Chiefs have suffered multiple injuries on offense this season, including star receiver Rashee Rice being sidelined for the year with a knee injury. Adding Johnson could give Patrick Mahomes another option to throw to in the postseason.