7 winners and 4 losers from Ravens trade for Diontae Johnson
The Winners and Losers from the team’s first and hopefully not final move before next week’s deadline.
The Baltimore Ravens both bolstered and upgraded their wide receiver depth chart by bringing the Pro Bowl wideout and former Pittsburgh Steelers standout Diontae Johnson back to the AFC North via trade.
Lamar Jackson: The reigning MVP (and frontrunner for this year’s trophy) was already playing with the most talented pass-catching group of his career, and now he’s adding another 1,000-yard receiver to the mix. Jackson is on pace to throw for over 4,000 yards for the first time in his career and Johnson’s speed and separation ability will only help him reach that milestone faster.
Zay Flowers: Even though Johnson comes with a proven pedigree, there is still no questioning the status of the second-year pro as the Ravens’ clear No. 1 wide receiver. Flowers leads the team with 527 receiving yards and has 20 more targets and total touches than any other wideout on the roster. Johnson won’t take any snaps from Flowers; instead, the addition can only help Flowers by giving opposing defenses another threat to account for. When they’re on the field at the same time, Flowers could get more favorable matchups and see less double coverage.
Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely: As a vertical threat and elite separator, Johnson will command respect from opposing defenses and create open space for others. That will allow the Ravens’ elite tight end tandem to feast even more over the middle and up the seams.
Derrick Henry: Just as Johnson’s presence will spread opposing defenses thinner in coverage for Flowers and the tight ends, it may also lead to more open space for Henry in the run game. With more use of 11 personnel, defenses will play lighter boxes and lighter personnel, giving Henry the chance to expand his league-lead in yards on the ground.
Todd Monken: The Ravens’ second-year offensive coordinator has another weapon who can separate on his own or pick up chunks of yardage when schemed into open space. During his time in Pittsburgh, Johnson was a big-play threat from multiple alignments on a full route tree, making plays in the quick-screen game and deep routes downfield. Monken will ensure he gets the chance to terrorize his former team in their two meetings later this season.
