The Pittsburgh Steelers made a bold move early in the 2024 offseason, trading star wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. In return, the Steelers received cornerback Donte Jackson, strengthening their secondary as they aimed to bolster their defense. The decision raised some eyebrows, but Pittsburgh’s early-season success, capped by a 26-18 Monday Night Football win over the New York Giants, seemed to confirm they were on the right path with a 6-2 record.
However, as Pittsburgh celebrated its victory, the Baltimore Ravens were busy working the phones. In a surprising twist, multiple reports confirmed on Tuesday that the Ravens had successfully traded for Johnson from the Panthers.
The deal not only brings Johnson back to the AFC North but, places him squarely with the Steelers’ biggest rivals—a move that’s bound to stoke the already heated rivalry between the two teams. Now, Johnson will be wearing purple and black, and he’s set to face his former team two times in 2024 in what could be pivotal matchups in the divisional race.
According to Albert Breer, the Ravens didn't even have to give up much to land Johnson. The Panthers are also going to be paying some of Johnson's salary. None of this is exciting news for Steeler Nation.
Johnson's arrival in Baltimore adds a potent weapon to the Ravens' offense, and the Steelers’ secondary will now be tasked with containing the very player Pittsburgh once relied on. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the AFC North rivalry has just intensified in a big way.
In-division trades are rare, and when the Steelers dealt Johnson to the Panthers, reports indicated they were intent on keeping him out of the AFC entirely. The Kansas City Chiefs were rumored to be a potential trade partner, but the Steelers reportedly had no interest in strengthening a conference rival at such a key position.
This move by General Manager Omar Khan—trading away Johnson without securing a replacement—has been one of the few criticisms of his tenure. Khan has been excellent for Pittsburgh overall, but this decision has drawn scrutiny. He’s made aggressive efforts to reinforce the wide receiver room since then, but while other AFC contenders have landed big additions, the Steelers have yet to secure their own.
Steelers' AFC Threats All Getting Better At Wide Receiver
Meanwhile, AFC heavyweights like the Buffalo Bills, Chiefs, and now the Ravens have each made significant moves to bolster their wide receiver corps. Each of these additions increases the competition, and Steelers fans are left hoping that Khan can still find a way to keep pace in the stacked AFC.
Johnson was traded amid reports that the Steelers' leadership had grown frustrated with the internal headaches he was causing. Now, it will be up to Jackson, Joey Porter Jr., Cam Sutton, and Beanie Bishop Jr. to try to contain Johnson and the rest of the Ravens' offensive weapons. Baltimore seems to be only getting stronger, but Pittsburgh will look to maintain its edge in the rivalry and find a way to keep the Ravens’ firepower in check.
It’s starting to look like the Steelers’ decision to trade Johnson may have backfired. Facing him now as a division rival, Pittsburgh’s secondary will be tested against a Ravens offense that includes both Johnson and rising star Zay Flowers. As they head into divisional play in 2024, the Steelers’ secondary will need to step up to prevent Baltimore from capitalizing on their revamped receiving corps.
