If you haven't thought about the name 'Diontae Johnson' in a while, it's probably because he hasn't made a lick of difference since leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 2019 third-round pick was once a 100-catch, 1,000-yard wide receiver, earning Pro Bowl honors as an alternate in 2021. Those days are long behind him. But his name recently resurfaced, and Steelers fans can't help but laugh.
When the Steelers traded Johnson to the Carolina Panthers during the 2024 offseason, fans were outraged. Johnson was the go-to option in the passing game, and he still had a year remaining on his two-year, $36 million contract extension he signed during the 2022 offseason.
But since leaving the Steelers last offseason, Johnson's career quickly spiraled out of control. In one calendar year, the once prominent receiver went from Pittsburgh to Carolina to Baltimore to Houston. Now he's the Cleveland Browns' problem to deal with.
Johnson was spotted on the Browns' practice field at the start of mandatory minicamp, and his presence reminds us of how quickly his career has fallen off a cliff.
First look at #Browns WR Diontae Johnson in drills:
via @FredGreetham9 pic.twitter.com/SCn0TRuWb9
— Grant Puskar (@grant_puskar_) June 10, 2025
There would have been a day when Pittsburgh Steelers fans would have gone berserk to see their former top wide receiver sporting the uniform of an AFC North rival in what should be the prime of his career. Now we can just take comfort in knowing that the Browns clearly don't understand what they just signed up for.
The Pittsburgh Steelers can laugh at Diontae Johnson's presence on the Cleveland Browns' roster
The Cleveland Browns signed Diontae Johnson to a one-year, $1.17 million deal in May. For this type of money, Johnson isn't guaranteed to make the final roster (nor should he be). If the Browns have been paying attention, Johnson is on his fifth team since last March. There's a reason for this.
It's not a talent issue. Though Johnson wasn't the fastest or most physical receiver, he has outstanding fluidity and specializes in creating space between himself and his defender. This is what made him a go-to target for Ben Roethlisberger early in his career.
However, it's no secret that he struggles to keep his attitude in check. His utter lack of effort as a blocker, combined with a few locker room altercations, eventually led to his trade from the Steelers (and is no doubt what caused him to bounce around the league.
Steelers fans are watching Diontae Johnson put on the jersey of a third AFC North team in just over a year, and it's hilarious that he's still getting every chance to turn things around. Now he just needs to somehow land on the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025, and his divisional tour will be complete.
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