NFL fans react as Ravens waive Diontae Johnson post disappointing 2024 stint: "Waste of talent"

Diontae Johnson's brief stint in Baltimore is over. On Friday, the Ravens waived the wide receiver after a troublesome spell with the franchise. He last played in the Ravens' 30-23 win over the LA Chargers in Week 12.

The Ravens announced parting ways with the veteran wide receiver in a post on X that read:

"We have waived WR Diontae Johnson. We have activated DB Desmond King and WR Anthony Miller from the Practice Squad for tomorrow's game."

Fans on social media were extremely disappointed with Johnson's dismal stint in Baltimore and called him out for it.

"Waste of talent," one said.

Some fans also pointed the finger at the Ravens, claiming the franchise did little to help the wide receiver settle in:

"Yeah Baltimore messed this up," a fan wrote.

"(GM) Eric DeCosta and Harbaugh need so much blame for this. What was the thought process behind getting a guy who was a WR1 and shove him down the depth chart and not expect for him to lash out?" another said.

"In hindsight, trading for Diontae was malpractice if Ravens never planned on using him as WR1/2. Ravens really thought Diontae, someone who’s been primarily used as WR1 since being drafted was just going to be okay with being used a WR3/4?" another asked.

Ravens waive Diontae Johnson: Timeline of WR's disastrous stint in Baltimore

In late October, the Ravens traded their 2025 fifth-round pick to the Carolina Panthers for Diontae Johnson and a 2025 sixth-round pick. The team wanted to add depth to its wide receiver room and believed the former Pittsburgh Steelers star fit the bill perfectly.

Johnson made his debut in the Ravens' 41-10 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 9 but played only 19 snaps and wasn’t targeted. In his next three outings, quarterback Lamar Jackson targeted him only four times, and they connected just once for six yards.

In Week 13 against the Philadelphia Eagles, the team benched him, which did not sit well with the wide receiver. When the coaching staff asked Johnson to enter the game, he refused and remained on the sidelines.

Following their bye week, the team suspended him for their Week 15 clash against the New York Giants for "conduct detrimental to the team."

The day after that game, he asked to be excused from team activities ahead of the Week 16 game against his former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Ravens granted his request. After mulling over the situation for four days, the team decided it was best to part ways with the wide receiver and waived him.

Johnson's time in Baltimore was a disappointment, and his exit leaves the team a receiver short. It remains to be seen whether trading for him, rather than another veteran star, will prove to be a massive blunder for the Ravens.