Browns Sign Gifted Free Agent Receiver Desperate to Fix Career

The Cleveland Browns are searching for answers at wide receiver as much as they are at quarterback. That's evidenced by the fact that they signed journeyman wide receiver Diontae Johnson to a contract. 

Johnson signed a one-year deal for the veteran minimum of $1.17 million with no guaranteed money. If he's cut at any point before Week 1, the team won't have to pay him anything. 

The six-year veteran - desperate in a sense - might give the word "journeyman" a new definition.

After being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Johnson spent five seasons with the black and gold before being traded to the Carolina Panthers in March 2024.

The following October, Johnson was traded to the Baltimore Ravens before being waived the following December after a contentious stay that included a suspension for refusing to enter the Week 13 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles.

That means the former Toledo wideout was with four teams in the 2024 calendar year that included two trades, a suspension and being placed on waivers twice.

Now, he'll attempt to make good with the NFL in Cleveland, where few wide receivers have had success and where the quarterback situation is sketchy at best.

Johnson's best season as a pro came in 2021 with the Steelers when he posted 107 receptions for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns and added five carries for another 53 yards on the ground. He also matched a career high with two fumbles that season.

Johnson has never come close to another 1,000-yard season since.