Ravens fleece Panthers in Diontae Johnson trade, but that's DeCosta doing business

When the news broke that the Baltimore Ravens were acquiring Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson, the initial question on everyone's mind was, "At what cost?"

Then, the compensation news dropped, which proceeded to break the internet. It was reported Baltimore was giving up a fifth-round pick for Johnson and a sixth-round pick from Carolina. No joke, that was the agreed-upon trade. Ravens GM Eric DeCosta did it again!

Needless to say, that's a pretty awful "haul" for the Panthers and a slightly impossibly amazing haul for the Ravens. The trade grade gets an easy A for the absolute highway robbery of the NFL season. We’ve seen star receivers traded for late-round picks before, but it’s rare to see a player in his late 20s moved for that kind of value plus additional draft compensation coming back.

By all accounts, this was highway robbery at its finest, and who's to say this is the last of the Ravens' moves? We don't think they should be satisfied. There's still plenty more trades to be made.

Which team will Ravens GM Eric DeCosta fleece next?

The Johnson trade caught attention for a couple of reasons. First, the Ravens weren't necessarily desperate for another receiver - Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman have both been productive this season. Second, Johnson's contract won’t restrict Baltimore’s cap flexibility, leaving room for additional moves if needed.

It's no secret Baltimore needs additional help.

The pass rush has been inconsistent, the secondary often looks out of sync, and the interior offensive line could benefit from some upgrades too. It might seem like a lot to address, but there’s no need to panic - there’s still plenty of time before the Nov. 5 trade deadline... which had us wondering, "Who else could DeCosta fleece in a trade?"

New Orleans Saints

After a strong start, the Saints have sunk to 2-6 with little hope left. Defensive ends like Cameron Jordan and Carl Granderson could elevate Baltimore’s pass rush. Meanwhile, adding a cornerback like Marshon Lattimore or a safety like Tyrann Mathieu could be game-changers for a Ravens secondary desperate to break out of its season-long slump.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Offensive guard Brandon Scherff comes to mind as a perfect trade target for the Ravens offense. While he's no longer the Pro Bowler he once was, he's still a top-25 guard in the NFL. Other than Scherff, safety Andre Cisco presents an intriguing option in the secondary. He's not an elite player, but he's better than what Baltimore's been fielding.

New York Giants

The Giants have a few players on the defensive side of the football who could warrant a look. Cornerback Deonte Banks seems to be running out of favor, and he'd be worth a flier. Azeez Ojulari, forever a project, could also be a decent cheap addition.

Carolina Panthers

Why not go back to the well? DeCosta already took advantage of Panthers' GM Dan Morgan once, why not try again? The Panthers appear to be starting a sell-off, making a potential Jadeveon Clowney reunion worth considering for the pass rush woes. Additionally, Baltimore should also explore a deal for offensive guard Robert Hunt. If he’s available and the price is right, the Ravens should move quickly to strengthen the interior of their offensive line.

Whatever the next move is, you can bet DeCosta will make it work in Baltimore’s favor. He's a real one.

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