The LA Chargers entered the 2024 season with what looked to be one of the worst pass-catching groups in the NFL. With the NFL trade deadline right around the corner, the Chargers have the chance to address this need that has capped the team's ceiling thus far this season.
One of the biggest wide receiver names on the trade block is Carolina Panthers' wideout Diontae Johnson. Carolina traded for Johnson before the season and after a 1-6 start with no reprieve in sight, it makes more sense to trade away the remaining half-season on his contract.
Johnson has made it pretty obvious he prefers to be traded and the Chargers would be a great fit for him. The Panthers are not doing much to quell these trade rumors, either, as evidenced by Dave Canales' latest comments about Johnson and the potential of trading him.
Asked if decision on holding Diontae Johnson out is related to the trade deadline, Dave Canales says that’s a conversation for Dan Morgan and Brandt Tilis. pic.twitter.com/TmUbkjsCnq
— Joe Person (@josephperson) October 25, 2024
Panthers all but confirm Diontae Johnson will be traded (and the Chargers must strike)
This is about as close as a team can get to a public confirmation that a player will be traded without outright saying it will happen. At this rate, it would be shocking if Johnson is still playing in Carolina after the Nov. 5 deadline.
Now, just because it seems likely that Johnson will be traded does not mean it will be to the Chargers. There are plenty of teams that need wide receiver help this season and considering Johnson's likely affordable price, there will be competition on the trade market.
There could be some pause from the coaching staff about how Johnson has handled his situation in the media. From afar, he does not appear to fit the culture that Jim Harbaugh and Co. are building in Los Angeles.
That being said, the Chargers won't truly know that to be the case unless they get Johnson in the building. And even if there is a slightly culture conflict, what he would bring between the hashmarks is undoubtedly worth his potential price tag.
Johnson may not be an elite, game-changing WR1 but he is better than anyone the Chargers have on the roster. And even though he has never played with even an average quarterback, Johnson has shown promising flashes of being able to play at a high level.
The Chargers have already shown they are serious about contending for a playoff spot this year even though it is essentially a set-up season. If they weren't, the team would not have played Justin Hebrert on a bum ankle.
If the Bolts are going to truly commit to being a playoff team then they need to add resources to actually make the roster look like a playoff roster. As it stands right now, the receiving corps would be one of the worst in recent NFL history to make the playoffs, if that were to happen.
Johnson helps solve that problem.