2024 was a roller coaster ride for the Baltimore Ravens. The defense sputtered throughout the season, and while the offense put up historic numbers, there were hiccups along the way. One of those hiccups was the acquisition of wide receiver Diontae Johnson.
The Ravens struck a deal with the Carolina Panthers for Johnson on November 5, but after coming to Baltimore, Johnson played in just four games and made one start. He made one reception for six yards on five targets in those outings.
It is safe to say he was one of the biggest trade deadline mistakes in Ravens history, and his career has taken a tumble since. This past offseason, the 28-year-old signed with the Cleveland Browns on a one-year contract worth $1.17 million.
While speaking to the media on Wednesday, Johnson revealed that the Browns were the only team to call him over the last few months.
“Yeah, that was really the only team that hit me up,” he said.
Diontae Johnson has few options left
The former Toledo Rocket was once one of the league’s fastest-rising stars. After some strong years where he was a focal point in the Pittsburgh Steelers offense, Johnson broke out for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021 and earned a Pro Bowl nod. Heading into the 2025 season, he is going on a rather unimpactful tour around the AFC North.
While his career trajectory looks bad, Johnson is trying to stay optimistic and is looking to prove his late-season antics do not tell the full story of his character on and off the field.
“It’s one bad year. I had five great seasons in Pittsburgh,” Johnson said. “That doesn’t define me as a player, my character, none of that.”
His dramatic Baltimore tenure was not a one-off. It has been ongoing since 2023. He struggled with drops and a lack of effort on the field. Off the field, reports regarding behavioral concerns have followed him. In the 2023 offseason, the Steelers traded Johnson to the Panthers, much in part due to these issues. They have only ramped up since.
In Baltimore, he refused to go onto the field when coaches asked him to go in, which was the last straw and led to his release. Soon after, the Houston Texans scooped him up, but he had a limited role there, tallying only two catches on four targets, totaling 12 yards. There, he also was frustrated, and the Texans would release the former Pro Bowler after a playoff win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Johnson still has plenty of time to turn things around, but his career is spiraling out of control. The opportunity with the Browns might be his last chance to get back on track.
