Diontae Johnson returns to Ravens on waivers claim

The Ravens’ surprise waiver claim for journeyman Diontae Johnson could result in an extra draft pick for Baltimore.

Johnson, who was waived by Baltimore earlier this season, was claimed by the Ravens a day after the wide receiver was waived by the Houston Texans, it was announced Wednesday.

Johnson won’t officially move to the Ravens until Feb. 10 — the day after the Super Bowl. He qualifies as an unrestricted free agent. By claiming him, the Ravens will have a chance to earn a compensatory pick for the 2026 draft depending on the contract Johnson signs in free agency.

The Ravens have been the best in the NFL at accumulating compensatory picks, earning a league-high 56 of them since the system began in 1994. Baltimore has used comp picks to select the likes of running back Kyle Juszczyk, punter Sam Koch and tight -than Isaiah Probably.

Johnson was waived by the Texans on Tuesday, and sources told ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime that Johnson had asked for his release. The receiver was visibly upset in the locker room after the Texans’ come-from-behind playoff win against the Chargers, sitting fully dressed at his locker and staring in frustration at a lack of playing time and targets.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t work out with Diontae,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Tuesday. “We’re on to the Chiefs.”

Johnson had three catches for 24 yards in two games with Houston after the Texans claimed Johnson off waivers from the Ravens on December 23. Baltimore had moved on from the receiver after he refused to participate in a Dec. 1 game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Before the Ravens waived Johnson, they suspended him one game for his refusal to play against the Eagles. Baltimore had acquired him in a trade with the Carolina Panthers on October 29, but he played just 39 snaps for the team and caught one pass for 6 yards.

The Panthers acquired Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers before the season. He had 30 catches for 257 yards and three touchdowns for Carolina when he left for the Ravens.

The Steelers drafted Johnson in the third round of the 2019 draft, and he had 391 catches for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns in Pittsburgh. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2021 with his lone 1,000-yard season and a career-high eight touchdown receptions in quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s senior year.

ESPN’s Jamison Hensley contributed to this report.