Diontae Johnson’s NFL career started with lots of promise, suggesting Johnson could have been the eventual Antonio Brown successor the team had been looking for. However, things started to trend down starting in 2021 and went off the rails in 2024.
Now, the former Steelers receiver is hoping to resurrect his career after a failed tenure with the Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, and an almost non-existent run with the Houston Texans in 2024. He decided to join a Steelers rival to attempt the comeback.
How Much Did Diontae Johnson Earn Before Joining Browns?
The Cleveland Browns are one former Steelers wide receiver richer, announcing they have signed Johnson.
Adding to our receiving corps!
We've signed WR Diontae Johnson
📰 » https://t.co/MHDksPmfIz pic.twitter.com/cnpXhaYMIV
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns)
Before joining the Browns, the wide receiver had already earned generational wealth for his family. According to Over the Cap, Johnson had earned $42,639,695 in his career.
The 2022 season marked his most lucrative year, as he earned $19 million. The Steelers were the team that paid him the most money overall, a total of $32.7 million.
The Panthers gave him the second most, with $9.375 million. The Ravens paid Johnson the least, as he earned just $562,500 in Baltimore.
The Steelers paid the most, but they got the most out of him, employing him for five seasons and contributing 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns in his time with the team.
The Panthers got the least bang for their buck, spending nearly $10 million for 357 yards and three touchdowns. The Ravens spent the least and also received the least production.
Exploring Whether Johnson’s Earnings Could Be in for a Big Change
The news of Johnson’s addition to the Browns offers the receiver a new opportunity to get on the football field, but there is no indication that suggests Johnson could be getting a large new salary.
Johnson has been on the open market since mid-March, suggesting that there has been no push to sign the receiver. The longer a receiver remains unsigned, the lower the salary eventually becomes.
Johnson could be in a competition for a depth spot on the roster, and those salaries are far from lucrative, especially in comparison to $42 million in career earnings and the $19 million lump sum payment Johnson has gotten in the past.
For instance, Michael Woods II, a receiver who Johnson is now seemingly in line to compete against for the WR3 role, is set to earn roughly $1 million this season. Johnson could be in line for a similar number, which won’t change much in the big picture.
Of course, if he can resurrect his career with the Browns, that will change his future earnings trajectory. Will this be a comeback season for Johnson, or just more of the new normal?
