It's been a long time coming with speculation rising with every passing week, but the Carolina Panthers and wide receiver Diontae Johnson have finally gone their separate ways.
After rumors surrounding the possibility, Carolina shipped Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens. If that wasn't bad enough, they practically gave him away to an AFC contender harboring grand plans to reach the Super Bowl this season.
The Panthers are nowhere near that level yet. It might be years before they reach these heights again. The NFL is a ruthless place and Carolina is miles behind the rest. Johnson could see that and wasn't going to sign an extension beyond his 2024 commitments.
This forced Carolina's hand. Morgan got something for the pass-catcher. It wasn't much, but it's better than nothing. However, it only demoralized the fanbase further with many passing the point of complete despair long ago.
With that being said, here are three winners and two losers from Carolina trading Johnson to the Ravens.
Winners and losers from Carolina Panthers trading Diontae Johnson
Winner No. 1
Jalen Coker - Carolina Panthers WR
Rookie wideout Jalen Coker is going to get plenty of work after Diontae Johnson moved on to more prosperous pastures. The undrafted free agent out of Holy Cross has come to life in recent weeks, proving that the big stage didn't phase him and he was ready for the moment. This should ensure the Carolina Panthers give him every chance to establish himself over the second half of 2024.
Coker has the talent, that wasn't in question before the draft and remains the case. His slow 40-yard dash time meant he didn't hear his name called during the selection process, but his smooth route-running and assured hands have been on full display when given a chance to impress.
This is unlikely to have played a significant factor in Carolina's decision to trade Johnson. But he could become one of the primary beneficiaries when it's all said and done.
Expecting Coker to immediately fill WR1 duties is stretching things. However, Johnson's target share has to go somewhere, so opportunities should be plentiful as he looks to firmly cement his long-term status with the organization.
Loser No. 1
Dan Morgan - Carolina Panthers GM
Dan Morgan was a controversial hire. Instead of team owner David Tepper going for a complete tear-down after firing Frank Reich and Scott Fitterer, he promoted the former linebacker to general manager. This kept someone he'd built a relationship with already rather than starting fresh.
Morgan's done some good things. Building the offensive line is at the top, but his neglectful defensive construction is a glaring flaw. Fans were skeptical before the Diontae Johnson trade. They are even more so now.
The Carolina Panthers got a fifth-round pick for Johnson. They also had to cough up a sixth-rounder and pay most of the player's remaining salary in 2024 to rubber-stamp the deal. That's a sign Morgan wanted rid of this particular problem. Even if it means looking bad in the short term.
Fans came out all guns blazing in their roast of Morgan on social media after the compensation became public knowledge. He'll be under increasing scrutiny moving forward, so panicking at any stage during the 2025 offseason is simply not an option.
Winner No. 2
Xavier Legette - Carolina Panthers WR
The Panthers drafted Xavier Legette to be an immediate contributor. Dan Morgan and Dave Canales became enamored with the wide receiver's physical attributes, trading up one spot to No. 32 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft to secure his services. It's been a slow burn up to now, but Carolina needs that to change after trading Diontae Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens.
Legette needs to emerge as an alpha within a wide receiver room not blessed with proven production aside from Adam Thielen, who's still working his way back from injury. It's not going to be perfect, but the former South Carolina standout must start repaying the faith shown in him by the front office.
There are flashes of promise from Legette. It's nowhere near consistent enough just yet, so it remains to be seen how he'll fare with a heavy workload. This is a huge opportunity for the wideout - one he must grasp with both hands before the Panthers examine potential pass-catching reinforcements.
With just 22 receptions from 35 targets for 211 receiving yards and three touchdowns through eight games, this is a journey into the relative unknown for Legette and the Panthers. But make no mistake, this was exactly why they drafted him.
Loser No. 2
Bryce Young - Carolina Panthers QB
Diontae Johnson was supposed to be the guy who became Bryce Young's primary weapon in the passing game. The pair developed a blossoming connection during off-season workouts. It didn't take long for this to unravel in a competitive setting.
Young was benched after two games. Things didn't get much better with Andy Dalton under center despite his Week 3 heroics. Johnson wasn't active when the former Alabama star came in once again last time out at the Denver Broncos. Even if the second-year pro does get the gig moving forward, he won't have the Toledo product at his disposal.
This only stacks the deck further against Young. Those in power have no real faith he can come good in this environment. Parting ways with Johnson for some magic beans only enhances the notion.
It's not an ideal situation for Young, but the Panthers are looking to the future. That means the Heisman Trophy winner could get another prolonged look to see if something can be salvaged. This task will be much more complicated without Johnson to depend upon.
Winner No. 3
Diontae Johnson
There is arguably no bigger winner from the Diontae Johnson trade than the man himself. He was unhappy with the Carolina Panthers. He was hopeful before the campaign began - as were most fans - but the same complications emerged. If anything, they got worse.
Johnson wasn't active last weekend despite saying he wanted to play. The writing was on the wall after that. Thankfully for the player, he's landed in the best possible environment with a franchise he knows well from his previous stint in the AFC North.
One can only imagine Johnson's reaction when the call came. Moving from Bryce Young and Andy Dalton to two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson is a blessing from the football gods. He needs to adjust quickly, but there's also the added incentive of ensuring the team that drafted him won't win the division.
As most players who leave the Panthers seem to do, Johnson will likely thrive in a more prosperous environment. Carolina will attempt to salvage something from another woeful campaign without him. Looking at the way things have gone up to now, that seems like a long shot.