It’s been a quick fall from grace for Diontae Johnson. Only eight players in NFL history have caught more passes in their first four seasons, but now Johnson has now been dumped by three different teams in the last 10 months.
Most recently, Johnson and the Ravens couldn’t get on the same page in regards to his role. He declined to enter their Week 14 game, leading to him being suspended for the game against the Giants. And Baltimore officially pulled the plug today, placing him on waivers.
That’s surprising in that the Ravens have ruled out Nelson Agholor, while Rashod Bateman isn’t at full strength. And had the Ravens kept him on their roster, they likely will would have received a third-round in compensation when he signed with another team in the spring.
Previously, Johnson caught 107 passes in 2021 for Pittsburgh, going to the Pro Bowl as a replacement that season. The Steelers signed him to a two-year extension worth $36.7 that August. But less than two years later, they decided to send him to the Panthers in exchange for modest cornerback Donte Jackson.
The expectation was that Johnson would be Carolina’s leading receiver, but he instead lasted less than half of a season there before they sent him to Baltimore for a late-round pick. The Panthers similarly gave away Johnson despite possibly getting more for him (in compensatory picks) had they left him on the roster. They really didn’t want him in the locker room, apparently.
Johnson is on waivers now, there for whatever team wants to pick up his contract. If he goes unclaimed, he’ll be free to sign with any team next week.
It’s highly unlikely that any team will be picking him up, I think. Maybe somebody signs him as a depth player. He’s looking like damaged goods right now, so I would think he’ll be having to sign a modest, one-year deal in the offseason, proving that he can successfully fit in with an offense before any team is making much of an investment in him.
But there will be some interest, I think, on that front. He’s 28, and he had three seasons with over 85 catches for the Steelers. Only eight players in league history have caught more passes in their first four seasons.
| 300 CATCHES IN FIRST FOUR SEASONS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | G | No | Yards | Avg | TD |
| 2016-19 | Michael Thomas, N.O. | 63 | 470 | 5512 | 11.7 | 32 |
| 2021-24 | Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det. | 63 | 410 | 4644 | 11.3 | 31 |
| 2014-17 | Jarvis Landry, Mia. | 64 | 400 | 4038 | 10.1 | 22 |
| 2020-23 | CeeDee Lamb, Dall. | 66 | 395 | 5145 | 13.0 | 32 |
| 2020-23 | Justin Jefferson, Min. | 60 | 392 | 5899 | 15.0 | 30 |
| 2021-24 | Ja'Marr Chase, Cin. | 59 | 370 | 5130 | 13.9 | 44 |
| 2003-06 | Anquan Boldin, Ari. | 56 | 342 | 4605 | 13.5 | 20 |
| 2019-22 | Diontae Johnson, Pitt. | 64 | 340 | 3646 | 10.7 | 20 |
| 2020-23 | Michael Pittman, Ind. | 62 | 336 | 3662 | 10.9 | 15 |
| 2004-07 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ari. | 60 | 330 | 4544 | 13.8 | 34 |
| 2011-14 | A.J. Green, Cin. | 60 | 329 | 4874 | 14.8 | 35 |
| 2006-09 | Brandon Marshall, Den. | 61 | 327 | 4019 | 12.3 | 25 |
| 2013-16 | DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 64 | 317 | 4487 | 14.2 | 23 |
| 2014-17 | Odell Beckham, NYG | 47 | 313 | 4424 | 14.1 | 38 |
| 2003-06 | Andre Johnson, Hou. | 61 | 311 | 3953 | 12.7 | 17 |
| 1996-99 | Marvin Harrison, Ind. | 60 | 311 | 4141 | 13.3 | 33 |
| 2014-17 | Mike Evans, T.B. | 61 | 309 | 4579 | 14.8 | 32 |
| 1989-92 | Andre Rison, Ind.-Atl. | 63 | 308 | 4123 | 13.4 | 37 |
| 1998-01 | Randy Moss, Min. | 64 | 308 | 5396 | 17.5 | 53 |
| 2017-20 | JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pitt. | 58 | 308 | 3726 | 12.1 | 26 |
| 2019-22 | DK Metcalf, Sea. | 66 | 306 | 4218 | 13.8 | 35 |
| 1999-02 | Torry Holt, St.L. | 64 | 306 | 5088 | 16.6 | 23 |
| 2021-24 | Jaylen Waddle, Mia. | 61 | 305 | 4085 | 13.4 | 20 |
| 1996-99 | Keyshawn Johnson, NYJ | 62 | 305 | 4108 | 13.5 | 31 |
| 2015-18 | Stefon Diggs, Min. | 55 | 302 | 3493 | 11.6 | 24 |
| 2018-21 | DJ Moore, Car. | 63 | 301 | 4313 | 14.3 | 14 |
Statistics compiled using search tools at Pro-Football-Reference.com
—Ian Allan