Assessing the Panthers Trade for Diontae Johnson

On Mar. 12, the Carolina Panthers decided to get aggressive with a trade for wide receiver Diontae Johnson. Johnson had spent all five years of his career with the Steelers prior to the trade. This move finally gives Bryce Young a target who can separate, presenting him with options down the field. It came at a cost though, as Carolina traded away cornerback Donte Jackson, while also giving Pittsburgh the better side of a pick swap. It’s not a lofty price for a proven wideout, but Johnson will need to step up immediately in order to prove it was a worthwhile trade.

Specifics of the Move

The exact details include the Panthers getting Johnson and a seventh-round pick, while the Steelers get Jackson and a sixth-rounder. For Jackson, it’s a departure of one of the longest-tenured Panthers players. He was selected in the second round of the 2018 Draft, and has been a different maker on the defense ever since. He started 16 games this past season, and should continue to be a pivotal roster piece in Pittsburgh.

For Carolina, it was a necessary move in order to situate their young franchise quarterback as well as possible. Lack of separation for receivers was a big problem last season, and Johnson gets open as well as anyone. It’s an exciting trade, and one that clearly benefits Carolina despite the loss of draft position and a veteran talent.

Johnson’s Background

Johnson made a name for himself while playing at the University of Toledo, totaling 23 touchdowns and over 2,200 yards on 135 catches during his time as a Rocket. He was selected by the Steelers with the 66th overall pick, the second selection of the third round, making him the 10th wide receiver taken.

Johnson made an immediate impact in Pittsburgh, starting 12 games his rookie season while posting five touchdowns and 680 yards on 59 catches. He continued to impress in his sophomore season, and even broke the 1,000 yard mark in year three. He earned a Pro Bowl bid that season, posting career-highs in catches, targets, touchdowns, and yards.

Expectations were still high entering 2022, Johnson’s fourth season, but he shocked everyone by failing to score a touchdown all season. This stat alone wasn’t telling of his success though, as he still tallied nearly 900 yards on 86 catches. In 2023, he saw a falloff in targets, receptions, and yards, but did manage to find the end zone on five occasions. Entering year six as he joins a new team for the first time, he sits at 391 receptions, 4,363 yards, and 25 career touchdowns,

What to Expect

Johnson’s reputation has taken a hit over the last two years in Pittsburgh, but he’s still an elite talent that can transform the Carolina offense. He’s an electric receiver who thrives when it comes to exploding off the line and finding a way around the defender. Sometimes this comes in the form of impressive moves and seamless routes, while other times he simply flies past whoever is tasked with covering him.

One’s initial reaction might be to think this will open up more deep pass opportunities for the Panthers, but Johnson’s impact will be felt just as much in the middle of the field. He knows how to get open right away, and will give Young more opportunities to quickly release the football. Johnson should also help Young grow, as his overall technical intelligence and ability to adjust can cover for a quarterback’s mistakes in certain instances.

Johnson can also be very physical despite his 5’10 stature, often using his hands to help create distance from the defensive back. Most of the knocks on Johnson as a player in recent memory have been about attitude and his drop issues. A new setting will hopefully help lift his spirits and turn the page on his career, while fans hope an emphasis on heightened concentration can help solve the drop problem.

The Receiver Room

Johnson now joins a Carolina receiver room headlined by Adam Thielen and Jonathan Mingo. Thielen, despite being 33, was the Panthers’ best separator prior to Johnson’s arrival. With Johnson likely to receive the attention of opposing team’s top defenders, Thielen should have more opportunities to get open and make a play.

As for Mingo, last year’s 39th overall pick will still be looking to score his first career touchdown once the season begins. If he shows significant improvement in his sophomore season, Carolina can shock the league with a surprisingly strong pass-catching group.

We could even see more additions in the coming months, as the Panthers now hold the 33rd and 39th picks in an outstanding draft class as far as receiver talent goes. There’s also the looming Tee Higgins trade, as the Bengals are still expected to deal the star wideout. Between Johnson, pre-existing options and ones still to come, year two has a much brighter outlook for Young in the passing game.