Browns Take a Big Swing, Sign WR Diontae Johnson
The Cleveland Browns are not sitting idly by hoping things resolve themselves. After a quiet NFL Draft on the wide receiver front, the team splashed on signing former Pro Bowl wide receiver Diontae Johnson to a one-year deal. It’s a gamble — one with both promise and danger — but it’s exactly the type of swing that a rebuilding franchise like the Browns should be taking. With several questions still lingering above their receiver room, Cleveland is betting that Johnson can get back into the form that once had him ranked among the AFC North’s toughest covers.
Signing Diontae Johnson: A Risk That Was Worth It
Following a Monday meeting with the Browns, Johnson signed a one-year deal, adding much-needed experience and ceiling to a receiving corps that needed help in a bad way. Jerry Jeudy is the only Browns receiver to have established himself over an entire NFL season, and while youngsters such as Cedric Tillman and Jamari Thrash are promising, they’re not so dependable— not yet, at least. Johnson immediately becomes one of Cleveland’s most polished route-runners and might serve as a key component for a team that wishes to make the leap into the playoffs.
The signing is not controversy-free, however. Johnson’s 2024 season was disastrous to the point that his excursion through Carolina, Baltimore, and Houston all went up in flames in spectacular ways. Nonetheless, past the disastrous year, Cleveland feels a 28-year-old performer with, worst-case, his best football years still in him is on the market. Johnson will just need to embrace Browns culture and stay vigilant to become one of the most notable steals of the offseason.
Johnson’s Rollercoaster Career Path
Johnson’s career has been a story of tremendous highs and unexpected lows. Drafted in the third round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019, Johnson quickly became one of Ben Roethlisberger’s favorite targets. From 2019 through 2021, he tallied three consecutive seasons with at least 80 receptions and 880 yards, peaking at 107 receptions for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021 — a season that included his first Pro Bowl selection. His ability to get separation from defenders and haul in tough catches made him a nightmare for AFC North defensive groups over those years.
But since then, it’s been a bumpy ride. The Steelers released Johnson after his production dipped, sending him to Carolina, where he started strong before being traded to Baltimore. A refusal to play in a key game versus Philadelphia soured his relationship with the Ravens, and a short, forgettable stint in Houston followed. However, the Browns see the talent that once made Johnson a household name — and they’re betting that a fresh start can rejuvenate his career.
Final Thoughts
The Browns signing Johnson is a risk-reward transaction with real upside. If he returns to form, Cleveland’s offense overnight becomes that much more fearsome. If not, it’s just a one-year deal. Either way, it’s the kind of aggressive move contenders have no choice but to make.
