Baltimore Ravens They’ve been pretty active at the trade deadline the last few years, and their big moves this year already look like a steal.

Ravens earlier this week acquired former Pro Bowl wide receiver Diontae Johnson and a 2025 sixth-round pick from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for only a 2025 fifth-rounder. Johnson, who previously starred with the rival Pittsburgh Steelers, is returning to the AFC North and will likely make a difference on the team. Best offense in the league. For just a late-round pick swap, it’s hard not to feel good about the deal.

Already, analysts around the league are praising Baltimore for this smart move. Former NFL general manager Michael Lombardi did this The Pat McAfee Showbut admittedly he criticized the Panthers rather than praising the Ravens.

“But how do they not accept that? I mean, Pat, I bet on the over/under, they basically gave it to them,” Lombardi said. “You know, Baltimore’s fifth-round pick will be somewhere in the 28-29 range of the fifth round, and Carolina’s sixth-round pick will probably be the first pick of the sixth round. It’s a really ridiculous trade.

“And what makes this trade even better for the Ravens is that if he comes out and someone signs him, they get a compensatory pick. He goes into the comp pool, too. Someone explain to me what Carolina is doing, I don’t want it.” I don’t understand.”

It’s no secret that the Panthers have fared the worst of any NFL team thus far. They finished last season with a league-worst 2-15 record and didn’t even get the first overall pick, having traded them to the Chicago Bears in the disastrous Bryce Young trade a year ago. They’re off to a terrible 1-7 start this season and could finish with the worst record again.

That said, the Ravens still deserve some credit for making the deal. Johnson was undoubtedly a hot target ahead of next week’s trade deadline, but Baltimore was the one to walk away with him. This trade will look even better if he can help his team get to the top of the playoffs.

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