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After being waived by the Baltimore Ravens on Friday, Diontae Johnson is reportedly expected to be claimed by a team seeking help at wide receiver.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Johnson will likely learn his new team on Monday when waiver claims are determined, with the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs cited as potential landing spots if he makes it that far through the waiver order.
Johnson has already played for two teams this season. He began the year with the Carolina Panthers after being acquired in an offseason trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After seven games with the Panthers, Johnson was dealt to the Ravens on Oct. 29. His tenure in Baltimore didn’t go well when he was suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team for refusing to enter a Week 13 game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Per a Dec. 16 statement from the team, the Ravens and Johnson mutually agreed to excuse him from all team activities this week. They followed that up by waiving him on Friday. He played a total of 39 offensive snaps and caught one pass for six yards in four games with Baltimore.
The NFL waiver order, like the draft, is determined by the reverse record in the current standings. Entering Week 16, the New York Giants would have top priority, followed by the Las Vegas Raiders.
A problem for teams like the Chargers and Chiefs who need receiver help is clubs behind them in the standings could put in a claim just to prevent Johnson from getting to them.
The Chiefs have the lowest waiver priority by virtue of having the best record in the NFL (13-1). The Chargers improved their playoff odds by beating the Denver Broncos on Thursday, but in doing so moved ahead of their AFC West rival in the standings to lower their waiver priority.
For both teams, within their own division, the Broncos need a secondary receiver to play opposite Courtland Sutton. Even if they don’t think Johnson is a great option to challenge Devaughn Vele or Marvin Mims, they may decide to put in a claim to keep him away from Los Angeles or Kansas City.
Other legitimate or fringe playoff contending teams with higher waiver priority than at least one of the Chargers or Chiefs who also need receiver help include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans and Washington Commanders.
