Diontae Johnson is returning to the Baltimore Ravens after being placed on waivers, at least on paper.
The Ravens claimed Johnson on waivers Wednesday after the Houston Texans parted ways with the wide receiver, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The move is shocking on the surface after Johnson wore out his welcome in Baltimore, but there is a procedural reason for the move.
By claiming Johnson now, the Ravens will hold his rights as he goes into unrestricted free agency this offseason. As a result, he could help the Ravens obtain a compensatory draft pick in 2026. Johnson will not even be awarded to the Ravens until after the Super Bowl, so this effectively ends his season.
Back to Baltimore: The Ravens claimed their former WR Diontae Johnson on waivers today from the Texans, per the league’s wire. This a procedural move and Johnson won’t officially be “awarded” to the Ravens until after the Super Bowl. But he qualifies as an unrestricted free agent… pic.twitter.com/5bGRL9ymcX
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 15, 2025
The Ravens had previously acquired Johnson at the trade deadline, but barely played a role on offense and was eventually jettisoned for refusing to enter a game. He then landed with the Texans, who made the unusual decision to get rid of him during the playoffs, reportedly for the same reasons Baltimore did. He has a lot of work to do to convince teams that he can be a viable option again, but the Ravens stand to benefit if and when he signs elsewhere.
