Why the Ravens Claimed a Disgruntled Player They Already Cut

The Ravens are bringing back disgruntled wide receiver Diontae Johnson. 

Well, sort of. 

The Ravens claimed Johnson off waivers Wednesday a day after he was waived by the Texans. Johnson was previously waived by Baltimore in December. Johnson won’t officially join the team until Feb. 10, the day after the Super Bowl, which makes him ineligible for the Ravens’ postseason run. The six-year pro is considered an unrestricted free agent, which could net the Ravens draft compensation in 2026 depending upon his next contract. 

When an NFL team waives a player, the waiver period lasts for 24 hours with teams having a chance to claim in reverse record order. A team has to have an open roster spot to claim a player and they become a free agent if they go unclaimed by the other 31 teams. Dozens of teams passed on Johnson for him to reach the Ravens.

The Ravens have been the NFL’s kings of compensatory picks, which are awarded for certain players, coaches, and executives who depart the team after the season. The system is similar to MLB’s, which awards picks to teams who lose a free agent after making a qualifying offer to retain them. 

The pick is calculated based on a points system that accounts for the contract’s average annual value, how many snaps a player plays, and if they receive postseason honors such as All-Pro from the Professional Football Writers Association. 

No team has capitalized on compensatory draft picks more than the Ravens, which have a league-high 56 since the system was introduced in 1994. Current 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk and Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely are among the established players the team acquired with comp picks.

The Ravens are Johnson’s fifth team in the calendar year, counting both stints in Baltimore. Johnson played the 2023 season with the Steelers, who dealt him to the Panthers before the start of the 2024 season. The Ravens acquired him from Carolina in late October. 

Johnson appeared in just two games for the Texans after he was claimed off waivers from the Ravens on Dec. 23. In that short stint, he had three catches for 24 yards. The Ravens waived him after he refused to enter a game against the Eagles on Dec. 1, which also earned him a one-game suspension.