The grass isn't always greener on the other side, and former Pittsburgh Steelers standout receiver Diontae Johnson has learned an ugly lesson. He was once a Pro Bowl-caliber player for the Steelers, but since his trade, his career has taken a tailspin. Johnson has created a toxic image for himself, and it would be outstanding if he could find a way to turn things around.
In a post by ESPN's Adam Schefter, Johnson has been released by the Cleveland Browns. He signed a one-year contract with the Ohio-based team to revitalize his NFL career. He had a strong chance to become a top target on a boring Browns offense. Johnson failed to accomplish that task, and he remains searching for a chance to make an NFL roster.
After he created a terrible image of himself this past campaign, it's no wonder any NFL team would be concerned about bringing him into their locker room. Joining the Browns seemed like a great opportunity to rebound, despite their roster full of talented playmakers.
Johnson was once a star receiver, but after failing to remain in Cleveland, this could be the end of the road for him.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers' star receiver Diontae Johnson is jobless once again
It's a shame that the former Steelers offensive weapon has ruined his career. He has produced quality numbers throughout his career, but last season saw everything unwind. Perhaps Mike Tomlin was the only thing keeping him in check. If that's true, Tomlin should gain plenty of praise for how he dealt with George Pickens and Johnson while they were teammates.
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No one knows what is next for Johnson after getting cut by the Cleveland Browns. He has a ton of talent to offer any NFL offense, but his toxicity is too rancid to consider. Johnson could be out of a job for the foreseeable future. It's realistic to imagine that his chances of playing in the top tier of football might be over.
Johnson ruined his once-promising career with his actions last season, and he will always regret it.
In March of 2024, Johnson was traded to the Carolina Panthers. He was envisioned as their top receiver going into the year, but that failed. After the Panthers struggled that season, he was flipped to the Baltimore Ravens on October 29th of that year. He quit on his teammates while with the Steelers' bitter rivals. It got so bad that the former playmaker was cut on December 20th.
Houston picked him up off waivers, but they only held him on their roster until January 14th. Baltimore would claim him once more, but they just stored him on the team for a potential compensatory pick during the offseason.
It was a long and bumpy road for Johnson, and it seems like he could be at the end of his NFL career after getting cut by Cleveland.