Diontae Johnson’s 2024 campaign spiraled from promising to disastrous. Initially seen as a bold midseason acquisition by the Baltimore Ravens, his time there ended in controversy, with a suspension following his refusal to enter a game against the Eagles. Baltimore quickly cut ties, and though Houston scooped him up for their playoff push, they released him before the Divisional Round.

In a surprising twist typical of Ravens GM Eric DeCosta, Johnson landed back in Baltimore via waivers—but was barely acknowledged afterward. That move appeared more about potential compensatory picks than any on-field contribution, a gamble that ultimately yielded nothing.

It was a stunning collapse for a veteran wideout once known for precision route-running and WR2 reliability. Over a matter of months, Johnson torched relationships with four teams—Pittsburgh, Carolina, Baltimore, and Houston—becoming a live example of how quickly reputations can unravel.

Cleveland Signs Johnson for Peanuts

Now, the Cleveland Browns have given Johnson another shot, but the terms highlight just how far his stock has fallen. ESPN’s Field Yates reported that Johnson signed a one-year deal worth only the veteran minimum of $1.17 million—without any guaranteed money.

That’s a jarring decline for a player who not long ago inked a $36 million extension with the Steelers and was poised for another sizable contract with decent performance. But his refusal to take the field in a key moment, followed by a suspension and ineffective stints elsewhere, left him with no bargaining power.

Cleveland’s move aligns with their offseason approach: take low-risk chances and hope for upside. But expectations are clearly muted. Johnson must now rebuild trust more than anything else—his talent isn’t in question, but his reliability is.

What could’ve been a key trade-deadline steal for the Ravens ended in disappointment. The Texans didn’t even make it to the second playoff game with him. And now, the Browns are simply seeing if there’s anything left to salvage.