Former Pro Bowl wide receiver Diontae Johnson is set to play for his third AFC North team, agreeing to a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns, ESPN reported on Monday.
Johnson, 28, had an official visit with the Browns earlier on Monday. The six-year veteran split the 2024 season with the Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans.
Traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to Carolina in March, Johnson got off to a strong start with 30 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games. However, he was traded to the Ravens along with a 2025 sixth-round selection in exchange for Baltimore’s fifth-round pick in this year’s draft.
Johnson didn’t make an impact with the Ravens, catching one pass for six yards in four games. He also was suspended for one game for refusing to play against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 1.
Johnson was claimed off waivers by the Texans and appeared in one regular-season game, finishing with two catches for 12 yards. Playing just 15 snaps in a wild-card playoff win over the Los Angeles Chargers, he caught his only target for 12 yards and was subsequently waived.
His odd season continued when the Ravens claimed him off waivers on Jan. 15, the day after the Texans dropped him. Depending on the contract Johnson signs as an unrestricted free agent, Baltimore has a chance at landing a compensatory pick in next year’s draft.
In six seasons, the 2019 third-round pick of the Steelers and 2021 Pro Bowl selection has 424 career receptions for 4,738 yards and 28 TDs in 89 regular-season games (75 starts) for the Steelers (2019-23), Panthers, Ravens and Texans.
