{"id":44912,"date":"2025-04-29T03:15:32","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T03:15:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=44912"},"modified":"2025-04-29T03:15:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T03:15:32","slug":"breaking-browns-sign-controversial-free-agent-from-division-rival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=44912","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING : Browns Sign Controversial Free Agent From Division Rival"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-387b5693 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-excerpt\" data-id=\"387b5693\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-excerpt.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">After bouncing around the league in 2024, troubled wide receiver and one-time Pro Bowler Diontae Johnson has signed a new contract.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1af68680 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1af68680\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-214951\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/02\/Diontae-Johnson-Contract-scaled.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/02\/Diontae-Johnson-Contract-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/02\/Diontae-Johnson-Contract-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/02\/Diontae-Johnson-Contract-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/02\/Diontae-Johnson-Contract-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/02\/Diontae-Johnson-Contract-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/02\/Diontae-Johnson-Contract-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/02\/Diontae-Johnson-Contract-1320x880.jpg 1320w\" alt=\"Diontae Johnson Contract\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c84d517 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-content\" data-id=\"5c84d517\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-content.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n<p>Six-year veteran wide receiver Diontae Johnson signed a new contract with the Cleveland Browns. Johnson, a one-time Pro Bowler, spent the 2024 season with the Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, and Houston Texans but is best known for his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered\"><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" class=\"\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=lastwordonnfl&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1916984904279330825&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Flastwordonsports.com%2Fnfl%2F2025%2F04%2F28%2Fdiontae-johnson-browns-signs-contract%2F&amp;sessionId=dba467a0fe456b4200b279d40161f4ac72755a23&amp;siteScreenName=lastwordonnfl&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-tweet-id=\"1916984904279330825\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-10\">\n<div id=\"FreeStarVideoAdContainer\">\n<div id=\"freestar-video-parent\">\n<div id=\"freestar-video-child\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Diontae Johnson, Cleveland Browns, Agree to Contract<\/h2>\n<p>Diontae Johnson is coming off one of the worst contract seasons in recent memory. Originally joining the\u00a0Carolina Panthers\u00a0via an offseason trade, the wide receiver recorded 30 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns during seven games with the club. However, he got on the organization\u2019s bad side and the Panthers traded him to the Baltimore Ravens for next to nothing at the trade deadline. Now paired with an elite quarterback in Lamar Jackson for the first time in his career, Johnson had the opportunity to show what he could do in a high-octane offense.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-24\">\n<div id=\"lwos_incontent_1\" align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x250\" data-google-query-id=\"\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/15184186,22512265771\/lwos_incontent_1_0__container__\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Instead, the wide receiver crashed and burned in his new home. Appearing in just four games while catching one pass for six yards, Johnson grew frustrated with his role and ultimately refused to play in Baltimore\u2019s loss to the\u00a0Philadelphia Eagles. The Ravens cut him shortly after this outburst and he quickly landed with the\u00a0Houston Texans. The wide receiver appeared in the regular season finale, recording two receptions for 12 yards. However, he reportedly caused a disturbance following the\u00a0team\u2019s playoff win\u00a0over the Los Angeles Chargers, and Houston cut him ahead of their AFC Divisional game against the Kansas City Chiefs.<\/p>\n<div id=\"FreeStarVideoAdContainer\">\n<div id=\"freestar-video-parent\">\n<div id=\"freestar-video-child\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-55\"><\/div>\n<p>Baltimore claimed the wide receiver, but they only did it for the potential of a compensatory pick. Johnson was ineligible to play for the remainder of the postseason and ultimately finished his season on a low note.<\/p>\n<p>While Diontae Johnson had a season to forget, it\u2019s worth noting that he can play well when properly motivated. During his five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the veteran recorded 391 receptions for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns on 639 targets while making the Pro Bowl in 2021.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After bouncing around the league in 2024, troubled wide receiver and one-time Pro Bowler Diontae Johnson has signed a new contract. Six-year veteran wide receiver Diontae Johnson&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":44913,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44912","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>BREAKING : Browns Sign Controversial Free Agent From Division Rival - 24\/7 News America<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=44912\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"BREAKING : Browns Sign Controversial Free Agent From Division Rival - 24\/7 News America\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"After bouncing around the league in 2024, troubled wide receiver and one-time Pro Bowler Diontae Johnson has signed a new contract. 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