Veteran WR Makes Admission on Signing With Browns

Diontae Johnson signed with the Cleveland Browns this season and it was an easy decision for the former Pro Bowler.

Coming off a turbulent 2024 campaign, Johnson had no other options. The Browns were the only team to give Johnson a ring in free agency, which he called a humbling experience.

“I had been home ever since and I was just hoping that I got something,” Johnson told cleveland.com. “Cleveland called and I was thankful. They’re the only team that called the whole offseason. It humbled me though.”

Johnson’s talent isn’t the question. He’s proven that he can be a highly productive pass-catcher at the NFL level over his seven years in the league. His best season came in 2021, catching 107 passes for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns. Johnson was named a Pro Bowler and looked on the way to becoming a star.

Johnson had two more productive seasons in Pittsburgh before being traded to the Carolina Panthers. Then things started to go downhill.

Diontae Johnson Explains Breakup With Ravens

Johnson got off to a solid start with the Panthers, recording 30 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns over seven games. His standout performance came in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders, notching a career-high 122 receiving yards and a touchdown. ​

Despite his on-field contributions, Johnson expressed dissatisfaction with the Panthers’ offensive scheme, leading to a midseason trade to the Baltimore Ravens. His tenure in Baltimore was short-lived. He appeared in four games, making a single catch for six yards, and was suspended for one game due to conduct detrimental to the team after refusing to enter a game.

“Baltimore was a tough situation for me. I love the organization but it just wasn’t for me. I checked out mentally. I wasn’t being used,” Johnson said during an appearance on the Sports and Suits podcast. “I wasn’t getting into no run plays, no passing plays or nothing. It was cold. End of the third, going into the fourth, they were like, ‘Tae, we need you.’ I was like, ‘Nah, I don’t think it’s a good idea for me. My legs are already ice cold, and I didn’t wanna go out there and put bad stuff on film. It’s not like I didn’t wanna go into the game, but leading up to this point, I had been through so much.”

After the incident, Johnson was waived by the Ravens and claimed by the Texans, where he had minimal impact before being waived yet again. ​

In total, Johnson finished last season with 33 receptions for 375 yards and three touchdowns over 12 games.

Diontae Johnson Can Carve Out Role With Browns

The Browns might have been Johnson’s only option, but it’s a good situation for him as he looks to get his career on track. The Browns have limited depth at receiver. Jerry Jeudy is coming off a Pro Bowl season and will be the No. 1 receiver. But beyond Jeudy, there’s significant uncertainty in the passing corps.

The Browns are hoping former third-round picks Cedric Tillman and David Bell can break out and have productive seasons. Neither has caught more than 30 passes in a season.

Jamari Thrash, Kaden Davis, Michael Woods II and DeAndre Carter are among the other receivers who will be in the mix.