Wide receiver Diontae Johnson’s career took a major turn last year, going from one of the league’s most underrated players to a locker room distraction and a source of frustration for multiple teams.
After a strong start with the Pittsburgh Steelers and a steep drop-off in 2024, Johnson is now with the Cleveland Browns and says he’s taking a new approach. A team insider recently shared how different the receiver’s mindset has been since joining the franchise.
Browns Insider Mary Kay Cabot Weighs In on Diontae Johnson’s Role With the Browns
In his first five seasons, Johnson earned a reputation as a talented receiver stuck in an unstable quarterback situation. He was often labeled as underrated, doing his best in a shaky passing game.
But things fell apart after the Steelers traded him to the Carolina Panthers last offseason. The fit didn’t work, Johnson saw few targets, and his frustration showed. He was later traded to the Baltimore Ravens, where things got worse. He reportedly refused to enter a game mid-contest, was released, and then briefly signed with the Houston Texans.
Within a year, Johnson went from a reliable offensive weapon to a journeyman seen as unreliable and lacking commitment. Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot said Johnson is approaching this Cleveland opportunity with a reset mentality, aiming to turn things around and show he still belongs in the league.
“He sat home for a good long time. He sat home for four months before the Browns picked up that phone and called him to give him an opportunity. And again, it’s not a starting opportunity and it’s not a $10 million opportunity, but it’s a chance and he had to take it. And I think that’s the part that really humbled him, that no one called,” Cabot said.
“No one said, ‘Hey, we understand exactly what you were going through last year. And we can’t believe it either. And we want you to come here and play for us and be the Pro Bowl receiver that you are.’ None of that happened. He did have to eat some humble pie. And the point that I’m trying to make in this, is that that’s absolutely got to be the mindset for him.”
Johnson comes to Cleveland with something to prove and a role to fight for. Currently behind Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman on the depth chart, he still has a real shot to earn the team’s No. 2 wide receiver job.
He admitted to losing his way in 2024 while with the Ravens and not carrying himself the right way. Now, he says he’s committed to getting back on track and making the most of his new shot in Cleveland.
Cabot offered one last piece of advice, reflecting what this chance really means for Johnson in a league where teams had stopped calling: “Just don’t be a jerk. That’s the assignment. Do not be a jerk. Be a good guy.”