By Josina Anderson
Oct. 30, 224
The truth on whether the addition of Diontae Johnson will alter the Ravens’ WR depth chart, and why Baltimore added Johnson to an offense that already ranks first in the NFL.
The Ravens have a firm #1 ranking on offense averaging 452.1 YPG (possessing a notable gap on the 2nd-ranking 49ers averaging 412.4 YPG), so the question is will the acquisition of Johnson impact the order and balance of how Baltimore distributes the ball into the second-half of the season, and why did they deal for him?
My understanding is the Ravens believe that Johnson will bring speed, separation and punt returning abilities to the team—especially with Deonte Harty’s (knee) listing on injured reserve a week ago leaving just Tylan Wallace and Zay Flowers to field the ball before. Thus, their goal remains to add good players and depth to be proactive where any potential attrition is concerned in case someone gets hurt.
NFL fans—especially those in Houston, Texas—just witnessed the sudden season-ending loss of alpha-receiver Stefon Diggs with a torn ACL, while Texans WR Nico Collins is already nursing a hamstring injury since week 5. However, even with that said, I’m told Johnson’s acquisition does not reflect a change in view of Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman as the team’s WR1 and WR2, per source.
It’s been reinforced to Flowers and Bateman, even going back to last year when the team added additional weapons at wideout, that the organization not only believes in the aforementioned duo but also has very high confidence in them. So I was told they “are not messing with that.”
Even with Johnson’s obvious route-running skills, I’m told the organization is keenly aware that both Flowers and Bateman are in “top-20 producing wide receivers in the league. Right now Flowers ranks 11th with 527 receiving yards and Bateman is 20th with 422ry on the season so far. Furthermore, Bateman just received a 2-year contract extension worth $12.87M dollars back in April.
However, I am told there’s potential that Nelson Agholor’s reps might feel the impact more than anyone else, but a vibe change is expected to result from any displacement as I’m hearing the current plan is for Nelly to host Johnson at his house while Johnson gets acclimated to his most recent team swop. Currently Agholor has 11 receptions for 170 yards on 22 targets on the season.
As for whether there’s any concern of Johnson’s history with the Pittsburgh Steelers and some reported instances of upheaval he was associated with in the Steel City (including a “heated locker room argument with FS Minkah Fitzpatrick after the safety took issue with Johnson’s treatment of the coaches on the sideline;” and “seemingly walk(ing) away from the opportunity to recover“ RB Jaylen Warren’s fumble in a game against the Bengals last season, per USA Today’s Steelers Wire), I’m told Johnson will have an opportunity to mold his own future in Baltimore. The feeling is that “people can grow up and mature and have their eyes open“ when in a new environment of hope and optimism. Still I’m told it’ll be “up to him” to make of this chance what he will.
At the end of the day the Carolina Panthers are paying most of Johnson’s remaining salary in the deal, as the Ravens reportedly will only have to pay Johnson about $625,000, per Jeff Zrebiec of TheAthletic.com.
Johnson will practice this week with the team, as he is expected to be in shape. While newly-traded wide receivers like Davante Adams (Raiders-Jets), and Deandre Hopkins (Titans-Chiefs) played the same week they were traded the Ravens will still monitor how quickly Johnson acclimates into this new offense to determine the rate of his utilization in all usual due diligence. Thereafer we’ll all be able to see Johnson’s impact on the Ravens after that.
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