When it got here time for the Pittsburgh Steelers to maneuver on from huge receiver Diontae Johnson, they reportedly didn’t wish to commerce him throughout the AFC, as an alternative delivery him to the Carolina Panthers.
In a slightly becoming transfer Tuesday although, the Panthers flipped Johnson — who spent 5 seasons with the Steelers — again to the AFC North, buying and selling him to the Baltimore Ravens, establishing two matchups towards his previous crew down the stretch, matchups that Johnson is trying ahead to.
For Steelers crew captain and star defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, he’s trying ahead to enjoying his previous teammate, particularly after the commerce added much more juice to the rivalry matchup.
“You recognize, it’s humorous. On Twitter, everyone’s like, ‘We have to commerce for Diontae Johnson.’ There’s a rule in place the place you can’t commerce again to the crew you’ve already been traded from in that present season, and so we knew that wasn’t gonna occur. However man, he needed to go to the darkish facet,” Heyward on the newest episode of his Not Simply Soccer with Cam Heyward podcast, in accordance to video by way of the present’s YouTube web page. “We simply bought some guys off that crew in Patrick Queen and DeShon Elliott which can be glad to be in Pittsburgh. Now we bought him going to Baltimore? I positively assume it opens up their offense. I believe it does a fantastic job of spreading the ball round. Diontae can create that separation that they’re on the lookout for, and then you definately pair him with [Rashod] Bateman, Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, Isaiah Probably, after which that run sport, man.
“I believe Lamar’s bought his alternative of the place he needs to throw the ball. It’s gonna be good for him to have an alternative choice, and looking out ahead to enjoying these guys in a pair weeks.”
The transfer to land a confirmed receiver like Johnson, whereas shocking contemplating the wants on protection, was a fantastic transfer for the Ravens, who gave up only a sixth-round decide in a pick-swap to land the veteran receiver.
In simply eight video games in Carolina, Johnson had 30 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns, although he reportedly wasn’t lengthy for Carolina in a relationship between participant and crew that was a “failure to launch” in response to one report following the commerce.
Now although, Johnson goes from a 1-7 crew to a Tremendous Bowl contender and an MVP-candidate quarterback, which is the epitome of an outhouse to penthouse transfer.
Heyward believes Johnson couldn’t pack up quick sufficient to get out of Carolina and get to Baltimore.
“I’m positive ‘Tae packed up so fast that he left a bunch of bunch of stuff at residence. Like, I’m positive Tae made positive to…he jumped on the primary airplane as quickly as they advised him,” Heyward joked of Johnson. “You recognize, I’m in all probability positive he did the Davante Adams the place he was already in Baltimore on the time. So, I do know Tae’s glad about this example.”
As he ought to be, too. He goes from some of the dysfunctional, poorly-run franchises within the NFL within the Panthers to a different mannequin of stability within the Ravens, one thing he was as soon as acquainted with in Pittsburgh.
Johnson is touchdown in an excellent offense, too, and ought to be slightly productive for the Ravens catching passes from Jackson schemed up in coordinator Todd Monken’s offense.
The Steelers will get their first take a look at Johnson within the purple and black of the Ravens in Week 11, which is at the moment scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Acrisure Stadium.
Take a look at the total episode of the “Not Simply Soccer with Cam Heyward” podcast under.
