Three Potential Landing Spots for Diontae Johnson After Waivers
As the NFL playoffs are approaching, contending teams will be looking for one or two extra pieces to add before the end of the season. One name being thrown around different teams is Diontae Johnson. Johnson has been on two different rosters this year, starting with the Panthers before being traded at the deadline to the Ravens. Dionate has been a solid receiver this year, racking up 31 catches, 363 yards, and three touchdowns, with most of those stats coming from his time with the Panthers. Johnson excelled early in the season, especially in the few games that Panthers backup Andy Dalton took the field, but never seemed to find a consistent role in the offense. As a receiver who's closing in on five thousand career yards for his career, it should be a matter of time before he finds a new team.
Los Angeles Chargers
Reports aligning with Johnson’s camp most likely think his destination will be in LA. Even with rookie wide receiver Ladd Mcconkey being a surprise standout in their offense next to Josh Palmer, the 9-6 Chargers still would love to have a veteran for standout quarterback Justin Herbert to rely on after the loss of All-Pro Kennan Allen last offseason. Johnson could provide another outlook to an offense that has been rejuvenated under head coach Jim Harbaugh, and be a potential needed factor when playing high-powered playoff offenses such as the Bills. With the way the waivers work though, the possibility for them to get Johnson seems unlikely, with the Chargers being a middle-of-the-pact team in said order, but the former Steelers star could prove important if the Chargers can land him.
Kansas City Chiefs
The powerhouse of the AFC is another team that has been rumored to be the favorite to land Diontae if he makes it to the Monday waiver. Even with the return of Marquise Brown today, the Chiefs are most likely still looking for a reliable deep threat after the loss of Rashee Rice earlier this season. Rookie speedster Xavier Worthy was destined for such a role, but he and Patrick Mahomes haven’t seemed to gain much chemistry on most of the routes he runs. The 13-1 Chiefs have been up-and-down this year in terms of their offense, and while their defense remains at the top of the league, the back-to-back superbowl champions will need a more high-powered offense if they want to become the first team to three-peat in almost 60 years. Mahomes looks to be fine from his injury, but a player like Johnson would certainly help out in providing another target for an offense that's waiting to break out. The only issue on Johnson’s side would be snap count, as he wouldn’t want the limited production he saw on the Ravens, but a path to the superbowl might sway him back to Arrowhead.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
One team that has a much better chance of getting the former Raven is the Buccaneers. Dionate Johnson would be a much-needed piece for an offense that lost star receiver Chris Godwin early this season and needs another slot guy next to Mike Evans and tight end Cade Otton. Unlike the Chargers and Chiefs, Tampa Bay can get their hands on him as early as Sunday as their place on the wire is much further up than both the teams previously mentioned. Baker Mayfield has been almost his best self this year for Tampa, and another experienced receiver to take the pressure of an aging Evans would certainly help. Diontae could potentially insert himself as the number two receiver in Tampa for this season, and have a real chance to help a playoff team going into a free-agency that is loaded with wide receiver talent. The Charger might be the most likely, but Tampa would seemingly be a perfect fit for the receiver if he wants to both contend and increase his market value.
