By now, the Baltimore Ravens and their fans know the Diontae Johnson experience well. Originally acquired at the 2024 trade deadline, Johnson was seen as a steal for the Purple and Black. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta essentially traded back a few draft spots to get Lamar Jackson a third receiving weapon alongside Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman (a move he knew could backfire).
At the time, no one knew just how disastrous things would turn, but overall, the trade felt like a pretty big win for Baltimore. Well, it only took seven weeks, but DeCosta and Co. realized they had made a mistake and released the disgruntled wide receiver. He was annoyed with the lack of playing time he was receiving, so he refused to enter a game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13. It was childish and immature and honestly felt like the beginning of the end of his career.
After such a public display of being unaccountable and unreasonable, surely no other team would look toward his services until 2025, right?
The Houston Texans said, "Hold my beer," and claimed him off waivers. Surprise, surprise—he immediately became a headache in Texas, complaining about playing time, and was released by Houston after playing two games. They cut him in the playoffs. That's how frustrated they were with him. Yikes. So surely, after a tumultuous 2024, there might be some hesitation about his future.
You know what happens when you assume.
Rumors suggest Diontae Johnson will have suitors in free agency
According to Tony Pauline, Johnson's roller coaster of a year hasn't necessarily deterred teams from wanting to take a closer look at him. After all, he spent last year on four different teams, might as well add to the collection. Pauline suggests teams could look past the red flags because he's not a bad guy:
"People tell me Johnson is not a bad guy rather someone who cannot control his emotions and he gets flustered when things don't go his way. Expectations are Johnson will sign a veteran minimum deal laden with incentives in the offseason by a team willing to roll the dice on his talent."
Basically, teams will overlook his inability to be a team player and good locker-room addition because he might be more talented than the WR3 currently on the roster. It's truly a bit of a head-scratcher. By no means is anyone suggesting Johnson is a bad person, but his tantrums in Baltimore and Houston do suggest he's a bad teammate. Why would any GM want to take on that baggage?
In terms of suitors, it's clear Johnson would like to operate as the No. 1 option, if not No. 2. That probably doesn't leave too many contenders looking in his direction. If the contenders are out, that leaves middling and rebuilding teams. However, why would a rebuilding team want to have this sort of leadership—or lack thereof—molding the minds of their young stars? Looks like a middling team it is.
Listen, money is not going to be the problem here. There will surely be a team willing to look past Johnson's 2024 season and convince themselves he's worth the headache for a small price. Take it from the Ravens, it's not. Good luck to whoever wants to take a run at him next.