The Cleveland Browns bolstered their wide receiver corps by signing free agent Diontae Johnson to a one-year deal on April 28, 2025, as announced on their official website and reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Johnson, a 2021 Pro Bowler, brings a high-upside but high-risk skill set to a Browns team desperate to improve a passing game that averaged a league-worst 15.2 points per game in 2024. His chaotic 2024 season—playing for the Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, and Houston Texans—tarnished his value, but at 28, his proven track record and AFC North experience make him a calculated gamble for Cleveland. Let’s dive into why the Browns made this move, what Johnson brings to the table, and how he fits into a crowded quarterback room and evolving receiver group.
Johnson’s 2024 was a whirlwind, seeing him play for three teams in 12 months, a far cry from his five-year stint as a Pittsburgh Steelers standout. Drafted in the third round (No. 66 overall) in 2019 out of Toledo, he amassed 391 catches, 4,363 yards, and 25 touchdowns from 2019-23, peaking with a 2021 Pro Bowl season (107 receptions, 1,161 yards, eight TDs). His 86-catch, zero-touchdown 2022 campaign with rookie Kenny Pickett set an NFL record for futility, but he still averaged 872.6 yards per season in Pittsburgh. Traded to Carolina in March 2024 for a sixth-round pick and cornerback Donte Jackson, Johnson led the Panthers with 30 catches and 357 yards in seven games before being dealt to Baltimore on October 29 for a fifth-round pick swap. His Ravens tenure was a flop—one catch for six yards, a one-game suspension for refusing to play against Philadelphia on December 1, and a release on December 20. Claimed by Houston on December 23, he managed three catches for 24 yards in one regular-season game and a playoff win over the Chargers before being waived in January 2025 amid a locker-room outburst. Baltimore re-claimed him for compensatory pick purposes, but he didn’t play. Total 2024 stats: 33 catches, 375 yards, three TDs in 12 games, with a career-low 5.6 yards per target.
The Browns needed a spark in their passing game after trading Amari Cooper to Buffalo in 2024 and losing Elijah Moore to the Bills on a one-year, $5 million deal. Cleveland’s receiver room was thin behind Pro Bowler Jerry Jeudy (90 catches, 1,445 yards in 2024). Cedric Tillman (29 catches, 339 yards) showed promise but missed six games with a concussion, and depth options like David Bell, Michael Woods II, and Jamari Thrash combined for just 22 catches. The Browns didn’t draft a receiver in 2025, instead adding offensive talent like running backs Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, tight end Harold Fannin Jr., and quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Johnson, signed after a Monday visit, fills a critical need for a veteran playmaker. His 2.29 yards per route run in 2023 and 80.6% catch rate in 2024 show he can still get open, and his $2.5 million contract (per Spotrac estimates) is low-risk.
Johnson’s role in Cleveland depends on his ability to mesh with a revamped offense. With Jeudy as the No. 1, Johnson likely competes with Tillman for the No. 2 spot, bringing speed (4.6-second 40) and elite route-running (79.1 PFF receiving grade in 2023). His prior connection with Pickett, now one of five Browns QBs alongside Joe Flacco, Deshaun Watson (out indefinitely with an Achilles tear), Gabriel, and Sanders, could help. Cleveland’s quarterback uncertainty is a challenge—Flacco’s 3,168 yards in 2024 were solid, but Pickett’s 2,129 yards and 60.2% completion rate highlight inconsistency. Johnson’s best seasons came with Ben Roethlisberger, and a steady QB could revive his 2021 form. He’s expected to play outside opposite Jeudy, with Tillman or DeAndre Carter (a return specialist with 12 catches in 2024) in the slot. David Njoku’s 81 catches and 882 yards at tight end add another weapon, but Johnson’s 3.7% drop rate (four drops in 2024) and history of frustration need addressing.
The signing has its skeptics. Johnson’s 2024 behavior—refusing to play in Baltimore and clashing with Houston—raised red flags. Cleveland’s 92.3 The Fan hosts Nick Wilson and Jonathan Peterlin criticized the move, with Wilson saying, “Next year has to be about healing that locker room. I do not like this.” The Browns, who emphasized “good character” in draft picks like Gabriel and Sanders, are taking a chance on Johnson’s talent over his baggage. His one-year deal is a prove-it contract, with incentives tied to catches (70 for $250K) and yards (800 for $250K), per The Athletic. If he underperforms, Cleveland can cut ties with minimal cap hit ($19.032 million available pre-signing). If he excels, he could hit 80 catches and 900 yards, boosting his 2026 market.
For the Browns, 2025 is about escaping the AFC North cellar after a 3-14 season. Johnson’s addition, paired with Jeudy’s breakout and an overhauled offense, could ignite a turnaround if coach Kevin Stefanski harnesses his skills. The risk lies in Johnson’s history of burning bridges—three teams cut him in 2024—which could disrupt a locker room navigating a QB battle. His deal signals Cleveland’s pivot from Moore, prioritizing Johnson’s higher ceiling (424 career catches, 4,738 yards) over Moore’s 178 catches for 1,962 yards. With Jeudy drawing coverage and a quarterback room full of potential, Johnson has a chance to rediscover his Pro Bowl form. The Browns are banking on his talent outweighing his drama, and for a team absent from the playoffs since 2023, it’s a gamble worth taking. Buckle up, Browns fans—Diontae Johnson’s arrival promises a wild ride.
