Browns Officially Announce Signing of Controversial Playmaker

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Evan Massey | Last updated May 5, 2025 10:06 AM ET

The Cleveland Browns have made some interesting moves already during the NFL offseason. During the 2025 NFL draft, they made a couple more with the selections of quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.

While Andrew Berry and the front office have added a lot of competition and talent at the quarterback position, the Browns failed to address the wide receiver position in the draft.

Fans were perplexed by that decision, but a new move has made it make more sense.

According to a report from NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Cleveland officially signed veteran free agent wide receiver Diontae Johnson on Monday.

Rapoport quoted a post from the Browns' official account on Monday about the move being officially official.

The #Browns have now officially signed WR Diontae Johnson. https://t.co/jpvQSIMWMd
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 5, 2025

Johnson had a rollercoaster 2024 NFL season. After beginning the year with the Carolina Panthers, he was traded to the the Baltimore Ravens ahead of the deadline. Things didn't work out with the Ravens, which led to him being released, and he played one game with the Houston Texans after signing as a free agent.

When all was said and done in 2024, Johnson caught 33 passes for 375 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games.

Those numbers may not look impactful, but Johnson had a good run with the AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers in past years. Back in 2021, he racked up 107 receptions for 1,161 yarsd and eight touchdowns in 16 games. He's more than capable of making an impact when given a big role.

Now in Cleveland, Johnson will team up with Jerry Jeudy to give whoever the starting quarterback ends up being a talented one-two punch at wide receiver. This is a low-risk, potentially very high reward type of signing for the Browns.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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