Sometimes it takes a while before a new player can adjust to a foreign environment. That could be said about Diontae Johnson since he was traded for the second time this year, but this time it was from the Carolina Panthers to the Baltimore Ravens. He was traded on October 29th, which was only months after the Steelers traded him to the Panthers back in March.
As Johnson tries to find his footing in Baltimore on the fly, things have not gone to plan. Many thought Johnson would be able to jump into the Ravens highly effective offense and produce top receiver numbers. Not only has that not happened, but Johnson has been playing sloppy football. He seems to be in a tough period of his career, and things could get worse before they get better.
His lack of character, when it came to a team-first attitude, is what shipped him out of Pittsburgh in the first place. He is still on an expiring contract, so he needs to show the Ravens and the rest of the NFL what kind of skills he could provide to any potential suitors in the future. If Johnson is unable to turn things around in Baltimore, then free agency could be ruthless against him.
Former Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson struggling after trade
It wasn’t too long ago when Johnson was “holding-in” with the Steelers in hopes of getting a contract extension. Eventually, Pittsburgh gave into his demands and it landed him a two-year extension that paid him good money in a top receiver role. That eventually led to turmoil within the next year and Johnson was shipped to Carolina for late-round pick swaps, and Donte Jackson.
Pittsburgh won that trade, especially after the Panthers tanked and decided to sell him before the trade deadline for a fifth-round pick. Good get for Baltimore on the surface, but it seems like Johnson might not be transitioning well. He has only played two games with the Ravens, so it is possible he could eventually catch on. So far, things have not been in Johnson’s favor with his new team.
Through two games of action as a Raven, the former Steelers star has only caught one pass on two targets. He has been seen slipping and falling during his routes. Things just don’t seem crisp in preparation for the veteran player. He cannot blame the offense surrounding him anymore for lack of production as Baltimore remains one of the best units in the entire league.
When it comes down to it, Johnson better prove that this is just an adjustment period for him. He needs to show up big for the Ravens down the stretch, especially with two games coming up against the Steelers. He has a chance to make them regret ever letting him go. His current path continues to show Pittsburgh made the right decision by trading him, but Johnson has a lot to prove to everyone.
