The Ravens‘ stunning waiver declare for journeyman Diontae Johnson might lead to an extra draft choose for Baltimore.
Johnson, who was waived by Baltimore earlier this season, was claimed by the Ravens at some point after the broad receiver was waived by the Houston Texans, it was introduced Wednesday.
Johnson will not formally transfer to the Ravens till Feb. 10 — the day after the Super Bowl. He qualifies as an unrestricted free agent. By claiming him, the Ravens may have an opportunity at incomes a compensatory choice for the 2026 draft relying on the contract Johnson indicators in free company.
The Ravens have been one of the best within the NFL in accumulating compensatory picks, incomes a league-high 56 of them for the reason that system started in 1994. Baltimore has used comp picks to pick out fullback Kyle Juszczyk, punter Sam Koch and tight finish Isaiah Likely.
Johnson was waived by the Texans on Tuesday, and sources instructed ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime that Johnson had requested for his launch. The receiver was visibly upset as he sat absolutely dressed as his locker after the Texans’ wild-card playoff victory in opposition to the Chargers. Johnson performed solely 15 out of the Texans’ 70 offensive snaps and obtained one goal, which he caught for 12 yards.
“Unfortunately, with Diontae, it did not work out,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans mentioned Tuesday. “We’re on to the Chiefs.”
Johnson had three catches for twenty-four yards in two video games with Houston after the Texans claimed him off waivers from the Ravens on Dec. 23. Baltimore had moved on from the receiver after he refused to enter a sport in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 1.
Before the Ravens waived Johnson, they suspended him one sport for his refusal to play in opposition to the Eagles. Baltimore had acquired him in a commerce with the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 29, however he performed solely 39 snaps for the workforce, catching one move for six yards.
The Panthers acquired Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier than the season. He had 30 catches for 257 yards and three touchdowns for Carolina when he left for the Ravens.
The Steelers drafted Johnson within the third spherical of the 2019 draft, and he had 391 catches for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns in Pittsburgh. He earned a Pro Bowl choice in 2021 together with his lone 1,000-yard season and a career-high eight landing receptions in quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s remaining yr.
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley contributed to this report.
