The New England Patriots are being connected to a former Pro Bowl wide receiver for the second time in less than a week.
It was stated immediately following Week 2 that the Patriots should target Diontae Johnson, the wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers. Following the New England Patriots’ Week 3 defeat to the New York Jets, Johnson’s name has been mentioned in Foxborough once more.
Johnson has been identified by ESPN’s Dan Graziano as a possible trade deadline addition for the Pats.
“Exceptionally thin at the offensive skill positions, the Pats were in on the Brandon Aiyuk talks when that was a thing,” Graziano stated. “If New England’s defense can keep things afloat, it could make sense to make a move for Johnson and sign him long-term.”
Given that Johnson is nearing the end of his contract, it might be a hazardous decision to trade important assets for the pass-catcher.
Recall that Aiyuk explicitly stated he would not be re-signing with the Patriots in the upcoming offseason, which is why the deal did not proceed. Calvin Ridley also passed over New England in free agency this past March.
Could Johnson experience a similar outcome?
Considering how much less power Johnson has, it seems less likely. Indeed, he was selected to the Pro Bowl by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021 after catching 107 passes for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns; nonetheless, that was his lone 1,000-yard season since joining the league in 2019.
The simple fact of the matter is that the Pats are in desperate need of a wide receiver, especially if they want to make life easier for Drake Maye moving forward.
Landing Johnson in a midseason trade would not only set up Maye with a target for the future, but it would also allow the Patriots to maybe feel more comfortable giving Maye some playing time in the second half of this year (although the offensive line is a mess).
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