The AFC North is like a gritty ’80s rock anthem—full of rivalries, hard hits, and plot twists. Imagine a wide receiver once hailed as the next Antonio Brown, dancing past defenders in Pittsburgh, only to vanish into a whirlwind of trades, suspensions, and locker room drama. Now, he’s back in the division…
And he’s wearing orange and brown. Diontae Johnson’s journey isn’t just a comeback story. It’s a test of whether lightning can strike twice in a league that rarely forgives fumbles—both on and off the field. Cleveland fans know this script. It’s the kind of underdog tale that plays well over a cold beer and a plate of pierogis at a Lake Erie tailgate. Think Bernie Kosar’s grit meets Major League’s chaos. But this time, the Browns aren’t betting on a rookie savior.
They’re rolling the dice on a veteran cast aside by three teams in nine months. And just like that, the Dawg Pound has a new chew toy. Kevin Stefanski didn’t hesitate. On Monday, the Browns’ head coach confirmed Cleveland’s one-year deal with Diontae Johnson, the former Steelers Pro Bowler whose 2024 season resembled a country song gone wrong—lost teams, bruised pride, and a suspension for refusing to play. What’s more?
The move comes after Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin shipped Johnson to Carolina in March 2024, a decision that sparked his downward spiral. Johnson’s stats tell the story: 33 catches, 375 yards, and three touchdowns across three teams in 2024. Once a 1,161-yard receiver, he became a journeyman faster than LeBron switching jerseys. But Cleveland’s desperate for WR depth.
Free agent wide receiver Diontae Johnson reached agreement with the #Browns, per @AdamSchefter
Former 1,000-yard receiver is looking to rebuild his career after playing for three teams last season.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 28, 2025
After skipping receivers in the draft, the Browns now pair Johnson with Jerry Jeudy, hoping for a revival akin to Josh Gordon’s 2013 explosion, minus the off-field chaos. Meanwhile, Johnson’s fall began with a hamstring injury in Pittsburgh’s 2023 opener. “It s—-,” he muttered then, unaware it’d foreshadow a year of frustration. Traded to Carolina, he flashed old magic—30 catches in seven games—before clashing with coaches over his role. A midseason trade to Baltimore backfired when he refused to enter a game, earning a suspension.
“Conduct detrimental to the team,” the Ravens labeled it. Houston took a flyer next, but Johnson’s pouting after a playoff win sealed his exit. “With Diontae, adding him to our team, he’s a guy who has talent,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said days before cutting him. “You come here and everything is a fresh start.” Spoiler: It wasn’t. Now, Cleveland becomes Johnson’s fourth stop in 12 months. If Stefanski can’t fix him, who can?
And while Johnson seeks redemption, the Browns made another headline: abandoning Kenny Pickett.
A quarterback carousel in Cleveland after signing Diontae Johnson
Cleveland declined the QB’s $22.1 million fifth-year option, opting for a “prove-it” year. Pickett, traded twice since 2023, now battles Joe Flacco and rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. “No preconceived notions,” Stefanski insisted, though Flacco’s 4-1 run in 2023 looms large. Meanwhile, Pickett’s résumé—14-10 as a Steelers starter, 15 TD passes in 24 games—isn’t awful. But Cleveland’s drafting two QBs signals doubt.
“I’m not going there to hang out,” Pickett told TribLive. He’ll need Johnson’s help to survive this showdown. And ironically, Johnson’s best years came with Pickett in Pittsburgh. Now, Johnson’s 2021 Pro Bowl connection—107 catches, 8 TDs—is a flicker of hope. “Kenny Pickett’s a guy that I believe in, that we believe in,” Stefanski said. But belief only goes so far. Cleveland’s offense ranked last in scoring (15.2 PPG) in 2024. They need Johnson to be more than a decoy for Nick Chubb’s backups. But skepticism lingers.
Oct 29, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson pulls in the ball for a catch against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
Johnson’s route-running precision once rivaled Cris Carter’s. Now, he’s a reclamation project—a vintage Corvette stuck in neutral. If Stefanski revs the engine, Cleveland’s gamble could pay off. If not? Cue the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme. As Friday Night Lights’ Coach Taylor once said, “Every man at some point faces a moment where he’s called upon to be more than himself.” For Johnson and Pickett, that moment is now. Cleveland’s low-risk bets could yield playoff glory—or become another punchline.
Will Diontae Johnson silence the noise, or will his past haunt the Dawg Pound? And can Pickett outduel a 39-year-old Flacco and two rookies? The answers hinge on one question: In the NFL’s relentless grind, does second chance mean last chance? As they say, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
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