Diontae Johnson has gone from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ WR1 to a free-agent afterthought over the past two seasons. The controversial wide receiver played for three different teams in 2024, not including the Steelers, with whom he finished the 2023 campaign.
With the 2025 NFL Draft and bulk of free agency in the rearview mirror, Johnson finds himself without a team. While it’s possible that things remain that way for the foreseeable future, with several teams in need of receivers, we take a look at three of the player’s potential destinations.
Three Potential Landing Spots for Free Agent Diontae Johnson
Johnson has become somewhat notorious over his past couple of years in the league. After being traded by the Steelers to the Carolina Panthers in March 2024, the receiver was traded again after just seven games. That trade landed him on the Baltimore Ravens, where he played in four games, receiving just five targets, before being waived by the team.
Johnson was then picked up by the Houston Texans, who were dealing with several injuries at the position. Despite the injuries, Johnson managed just one appearance for the team before being cut once more.
Now, with NFL rosters taking shape ahead of the preseason, Johnson is on the outside looking in. With the receiver just 28 years old, however, here are three teams that could take a chance on him in 2025.
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have a lack of depth at receiver, something that got worse with the departure of veteran Brandin Cooks in free agency. The team was linked with both Tetairoa McMillan and Matthew Golden with their first-round draft pick, but came away from the draft without taking a new receiver in any round.
After their star receiver CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys have KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Tolbert, and Jonathan Mingo competing for targets. Johnson has grown frustrated by a lack of targets in the past, but might fancy himself to become the WR2 on the Cowboys if given a chance.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers have already added to their receiving corps during the offseason. The team brought back veteran Mike Williams before drafting Tre Harris in the second round in Green Bay. But having lost Josh Palmer in free agency, the Chargers may want to solidify further.
Williams has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons, Harris may need time to settle, and 2023 rookie Quentin Johnston has been inconsistent at best. Johnson may be deemed an unnecessary risk for a team with numbers at the position, but they could be a team to watch.
New York Jets
The New York Jets could arguably be above the Chargers in terms of team need, but it’s close. The AFC East outfit added Arian Smith in the fourth round of the draft, after signing veteran Josh Reynolds in free agency. Still, though, the team lacks real playmakers on the offense outside of Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall.
Second-round pick Mason Graham could prove to be a difference-maker in the Jets offense, but tight ends regularly take time to grow into the NFL. I doubt there’d be a single NFL fan base begging their team to sign Johnson, but he could provide some spark for a team that desperately needs it.
