Diontae

Johnson

Desperation will drive one to that. Darius Slayton was active again in Week 8 and Wan’Dale Robinson has been performing up to par, but sans Malik Nabers the Giants have had trouble finding another wideout they can count on. Johnson makes some sense given that idea — the baggage is there, but he can certainly earn some targets in a way that Jalin Hyatt has not yet proven he can.

Johnson totaled 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns over the first five years of his career with the Steelers, but his career came off the rails last year. After flaming out with the Panthers, Ravens and Texans in 2024, Johnson signed a $1.2 million contract containing no guaranteed money with the Browns. Now that the Browns are also moving on without Johnson, it’s unclear what the next step is for the 29-year-old receiver.

“Even though his role would be different than [new signing Isaiah] Bond’s, that addition doesn’t help his chances, either,” Jackson added. Johnson has been listed behind Jamari Thrash on the depth chart for a bit, and the Browns may be choosing between Johnson and special teams helpers for their end-of-roster spots. Even if he does make the roster, Johnson’s role is so unsettled that he’s hard to trust in fantasy drafts at this point.

Jackson notes Johnson’s experience and production as reasons for him to have the edge over Jamari Thrash. Pittsburgh traded Johnson to Carolina last offseason. The Panthers then threw in the towel on him by shipping him to Baltimore. The Ravens cut him later in the year and then the Texans picked him and cut him a few weeks down the road for good measure. That’s four teams giving up on him in a calendar year. The Browns signed him to a measly, one-year, $1.2 million deal this offseason. Even if Thrash, a fifth-round pick in 2024, didn’t show enough as a rookie to be pencilled in as a starter, we’re not willing to call it for Johnson either.

The mercurial Johnson, who inexplicably played for three teams in 2024, did not attend Cleveland’s OTAs last month, raising questions about his commitment to his latest team. Johnson’s availability at the start of mandatory minicamp suggests he’s on track to make the team barring any summertime meltdowns or injuries. A consistent target commander in the short areas of the field, Johnson has amassed 424 catches for 4,738 yards and 28 touchdowns in his six-year NFL career. Johnson could function as a primary target for whoever is under center for Cleveland to start the season.

Johnson’s deal with Cleveland is the veteran minimum of $1.17 million for 2025. Johnson, 28, has played or talked his way off of several teams over the past two years, including the Panthers, Ravens, and Texans. A consistent target commander in the short areas of the field, Johnson has amassed 424 catches for 4,738 yards and 28 touchdowns in his six-year NFL career and could make an immediate impact in the Browns offense alongside Jerry Jeudy if he remains in good standing with the Cleveland coaching staff this summer.

The former Steeler wasn’t able to carve out a significant role with the Panthers, Ravens, or Texans in 2024 after a 717-yard 2023 season. The Browns apparently saw enough during his visit with the team Monday to sign him to a one-year contract, the details of which have yet to be released. Expect Johnson to start opposite Cedric Tillman on the perimeter while Jerry Jeudy works the slot.

Johnson had a forgettable 2024, to put it mildly. The former Steelers receiver saw himself traded to the Panthers last offseason only to later be traded to the Ravens, where his lack of playing time eventually led to his release. He then found his way to the wide receiver-needy Texans, who rostered him for just over three weeks. He was then claimed off waivers by the Ravens but was not eligible to play during the postseason. Now a free agent, Johnson, 28, has not enjoyed the market many expected him to see this time last year. He’s a productive receiver who has amassed 424 catches for 4,738 yards and 28 touchdowns in his six-year career, but it goes without saying that he’s likely in brand rebuilding mode as far as this offseason is concerned. This is the first visit we’ve heard of for Johnson, who may meet with other teams before signing.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter carefully broke down what is ultimately a brilliant “procedural move” by the Ravens. Johnson is not eligible to play in this post-season and will not be “awarded” to the Ravens until after the Super Bowl. Schefter notes Johnson “qualifies as an unrestricted free agent this offseason and, if he signs with another team, he factors into Baltimore’s compensatory pick formula, potentially helping it obtain an additional draft pick in 2026.” Schefter adds that Johnson “likely won’t step foot back into the Ravens’ facility. But he now can help Baltimore in the off-season.”

Johnson will go down in Texans 3:30 PM CT Wild Card Saturday history as “one player who caught a pass once.” The receiver has been waived three times this year and mercifully, we don’t think there’s another team left that will claim him this year. He finishes the season with a 33/375/3 receiving line in 12 games and will hit the high-risk one-year bin in free agency. NBC Houston’s Aaron Wilson reports that he was visibly upset after the game over his role in the offense — an offense he just arrived to three weeks ago. Entering his age-29 season, we may have seen the end of Johnson as a fantasy football asset. Certainly NFL teams are telling us that very loudly by their actions this season.