With a banged-up wide receiver corps, the Houston Texans will need all the help they can muster to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round on Saturday, Jan. 18. Yet, in a stunning move, the Texans released Diontae Johnson on Jan. 14.
Less than 24 hours later, the Baltimore Ravens swooped in and claimed Johnson off waivers.
Ravens Claiming Diontae Johnson Carries NFL Draft Implications
As ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported, the Ravens snagging Johnson was a “procedural move.” Johnson, who won’t be officially added to the roster until the day after the Super Bowl, qualifies as an unrestricted free agent this offseason. When he signs with another team during the 2025 offseason, Johnson will likely factor into Baltimore’s compensatory pick formula in the 2026 NFL Draft.
While Johnson didn’t do squat for the Ravens during the 2024-25 season, he can help them next offseason.
“Chess not checkers,” ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Compensatory picks in the NFL Draft are awarded based on the players each team lost and gained in free agency. The idea is to provide a balance for teams that lost high-value free agents in the previous year. Compensatory picks are awarded to eligible teams in March.
Chess not checkers https://t.co/mcM2D0YbEO
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) January 15, 2025
Diontae Johnson’s Whirlwind 2024-25 NFL Timeline
Johnson’s 2024 NFL season was a whirlwind, marred by trades and controversy. The year began as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he’d had a successful five-year career. As Johnson was heading into the final year of his contract, the team looked toward the future and chose to trade him to the Carolina Panthers.
Out of playoff contention by the Nov. 5 trade deadline, the Panthers shipped the former Pro Bowler to Baltimore, where the expectation was that Johnson would provide quarterback Lamar Jackson with a reliable veteran weapon to pair alongside Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Mark Andrews. Instead, what Johnson did provide was a disappointing four-game stat line: one catch for six yards on five targets.
In early December, Baltimore suspended Johnson for refusing to enter a game against the Eagles and cut him two weeks later.
Enter Houston. Hurting after season-ending injuries to Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell, they were desperate for veteran talent that Johnson could provide. Only it didn’t work out for Johnson there either. After just two outings, the Texans cut him after defeating the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card game on Jan. 12.
“With Diontae, unfortunately, it didn’t work out, and we’re on to the Chiefs,” Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans told the press on Tuesday.
As reported by KPRC 2, Johnson will be replaced by practice squad wide receiver Jared Wayne.