Top NFL Trade Packages for Diontae Johnson If Panthers Decide to Move WR at Deadline
The Carolina Panthers are suffering through yet another trying campaign after an abysmal 1-7 start to the year. With no realistic hope of contending, their best path forward will be stockpiling assets to continue their rebuild in 2025 and beyond.
With the Nov. 5 NFL trade deadline looming, expect to see multiple veterans exit Carolina and land with contenders over the next week. Wide receiver Diontae Johnson is a prime candidate to be dealt, as ESPN's Adam Schefter recently reported that the Panthers "have received multiple inquiries" regarding his availability.
On Tuesday, Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz relayed a "growing belief around the NFL" that Johnson will be traded prior to the deadline. However, he added that it's been tough for teams to peg a proper value for the receiver since he's on an expiring contract.
Johnson has been one of the few bright spots in Carolina, tallying 30 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns over seven appearances. The sixth-year veteran was sidelined with a rib injury this past weekend, although there has been speculation that the receiver was held out as a precautionary measure to protect his trade value.
Schefter noted that the Panthers are hoping to net a middle-round draft pick for Johnson, a price congruent with the other top receivers who have been traded in recent weeks. The Buffalo Bills gave up a package headlined by a third-round pick for Amari Cooper, the New York Jets acquired Davante Adams for a conditional third-rounder, and the Kansas City Chiefs netted DeAndre Hopkins in return for a conditional fifth-rounder.
It remains to be seen what Carolina will ultimately get for Johnson, but the flailing organization may net a quality Day 2 pick from one of several teams desperate to acquire a capable pass-catcher before the deadline.
With that in mind, here are four deals that receiver-needy squads could offer Carolina over the next few days.
Houston Texans
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Carolina Panthers receive: 2025 third-round pick
Houston Texans receive: WR Diontae Johnson
The Houston Texans have worked relentlessly to capitalize on their Super Bowl window. They spent the offseason adding a slew of veterans to augment a roster that made one of the more surprising playoff runs in recent NFL history.
Due in no small part to quarterback C.J. Stroud's rookie contract, Houston still has nearly $7 million in cap space that it can use to bring in another star before the deadline. That financial flexibility could be a huge boon.
While Houston went into the 2024 campaign with one of the NFL's deepest receiving corps, it has been dealing with a litany of injuries to its top pass-catchers. Breakout rookie Tank Dell spent the offseason working his way back from a broken leg and gunshot wound, while Nico Collins suffered a hamstring injury in Week 5 after a red-hot start to the season.
This group may have suffered its biggest blow yet in Week 8, as prized offseason acquisition Stefon Diggs went down with a non-contact injury in a win over the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans haven't given an official update on Diggs yet, which ESPN's Adam Schefter believes may be a red flag.
If Diggs is out for the season or even several games, the Texans would have to thrust inconsistent or aging backups like John Metchie III or Robert Woods into critical roles. Johnson would be a major upgrade to those depth options and could immediately step into the role vacated by Diggs.
Stroud would be the top passer whom Johnson has worked with in his NFL career. The second-year signal-caller could maximize the talents that have long been limited by quarterback ineptitude at Johnson's previous stops.
While the 6-2 Texans have already given up considerable draft capital to acquire veterans for their roster, they should be willing to part ways with at least one more pick if Diggs is ruled out for the year. Giving up a late-Day 2 selection in exchange for a high-end receiver like Johnson could help Houston go on a deep run come January.
San Francisco 49ers
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Carolina Panthers receive: 2025 fourth-round pick, 2025 fifth-round pick, 2026 fourth-round pick
San Francisco 49ers receive: WR Diontae Johnson
The San Francisco 49ers have been annihilated by injuries, and their chances of making a third trip to Super Bowl in six years have nosedived as a result. Their receiving corps has been hit particularly hard, as San Francisco is still reeling from losing No. 1 wideout Brandon Aiyuk for the year to an ACL tear. Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall have all missed time as well, while star running back Christian McCaffrey has yet to play this season.
Despite the rash of injuries, San Francisco has managed to claw its way to a .500 record heading into its Week 9 bye. It isn't too late for the Niners to turn things around and go on a deep playoff run, but they may need some additional help.
Acquiring Johnson would give San Francisco the high-end pass-catcher it needs to find some consistency and start stringing together wins for the first time in 2024.
Quarterback Brock Purdy has been struggling without his reliable supporting cast. The third-year signal-caller has regressed significantly from last season, when he emerged as one of the league's top MVP candidates.
Purdy completed 69.4 percent of his throws for 4,280 yards and 31 touchdowns against 11 interceptions in 2023. This year, his completion percentage has dipped by nearly five points, and he's on track for only 21 touchdowns and 15 interceptions following a polarizing start.
The Niners need more firepower to augment their signal-caller, and Johnson should be at the top of their list right now. He may not be considered of the league's top wideouts, but he has the talent to get to that level in the right system and should come at an affordable cost.
San Francisco's offense under Kyle Shanahan might be able to unlock Johnson's full potential. He could put up career-best numbers if the Niners opt to trade for him.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Carolina Panthers receive: 2025 conditional third-round pick (becomes a second-round pick if Tampa Bay reaches the playoffs)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers receive: WR Diontae Johnson
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were one of the great stories of the 2023 NFL season after free-agent pickup Baker Mayfield took them to the cusp of an NFC Championship Game berth. However, the Bucs' chances of another deep playoff run took a major hit following Chris Godwin's season-ending ankle injury.
Johnson may be the best replacement option available, although acquiring him from the division-rival Panthers could be pricy. The cost of doing business could be worth the premium for Tampa Bay if Johnson shores up the receiving corps and keeps the Bucs' passing offense humming.
Mayfield currently ranks second leaguewide in passing yardage, while his 21 touchdowns lead the league by a wide margin. Unfortunately, Godwin was Mayfield's preferred target this season. He led Tampa in targets (62), receptions (50) and receiving yards (576), and he ranked behind only Mike Evans in touchdown catches (five).
With Evans potentially sidelined until after Tampa's Week 11 bye due to a hamstring injury, the Bucs can't afford to wait much longer to reinforce their receiving corps. Tight end Cade Otton was Mayfield's main target in Week 8, while unheralded wideouts like Jalen McMillan and Rakim Jarrett struggled to keep pace in their elevated roles.
Tampa was already facing an uphill battle to defend its NFC South crown after the Atlanta Falcons landed Kirk Cousins in free agency this past spring. The Bucs are now a game back in the divisional standings and squandered the tiebreaker by losing both head-to-head matchups with Atlanta.
With the competition for the NFC's wild-card spots expected to be fierce, the Bucs may have to pull the trigger on a splashy trade for Johnson to keep their playoff hopes alive.
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Washington Commanders
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Carolina Panthers receive: 2025 third-round pick
Washington Commanders receive: WR Diontae Johnson
The Washington Commanders are in the midst of a stunning turnaround spurred by the impressive play of No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels. After finishing last season with an unsightly 4-13 record, the team is shockingly 6-2 and atop the NFC East standings in new head coach Dan Quinn's first campaign.
While the Commanders look poised to snap a four-year playoff drought and are a good bet to notch double-digit wins for the first time since 2012, the roster is far from complete. They lack quality receiving talent outside of established star Terry McLaurin.
While the sixth-year wideout is on track for one of the best campaigns of his career, no other Commanders receiver has more than 20 catches or 258 yards over the first eight games. Veteran tight end Zach Ertz has been the second-most productive pass-catcher, but his 32 receptions for 345 yards and a touchdown aren't the stats you want to see from a No. 2 option on a potential playoff team at the midway point of a campaign.
To take a leap offensively, Washington needs a more reliable option than Noah Brown (who has only 17 catches in 2024) to pair with McLaurin.
Johnson could be the scoring threat whom the Commanders have lacked since they dealt Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason. He's an incredible route-runner who could feast in single coverage against No. 2 corners while complementing the all-around skills of McLaurin and field-stretching abilities of Brown.
Johnson is also young enough for the rebuilding Commanders to plan around for the future. While his contract is set to expire after this season, a midseason trade could serve as a trial run for a long-term deal should he mesh well with this up-and-coming offense.
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