Diontae Johnson doesn't want to be defined by 'one bad year,' out to prove everybody wrong

BEREA — Diontae Johnson called 2024 "one bad year."That doesn't seem nearly strong enough.The former Pro Bowl receiver was traded twice, cut twice and suspended by the Ravens for refusing to enter a game. He played 12 games for three teams, starting eight, and had career lows with 33 catches and 375 yards, adding three touchdowns.Myles Garrett expects to have his best season, accepts responsibility that comes with his powerAt 28 years old, Johnson saw his career hanging by a thread. He said the Browns were the only team to contact him this offseason and he signed a one-year, $1.17 million contract with no guaranteed money — after they didn't draft a wideout.He tried to downplay the turbulent year that took him from Pittsburgh to Carolina, Baltimore and Houston."One bad year. It's one year," Johnson said Wednesday after a mandatory minicamp practice. "I had five great seasons in Pittsburgh. I had one year, that don't define me as a player, none of that. My character or none of that."Everybody's going to say what they want to say about me, but I know who I am as a person deep down and that's all that matters to me."New Browns WR Diontae Johnson on moving forward after turbulent 2024. pic.twitter.com/IX4Jj01FOa— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) June 11, 2025https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsHe was asked if there were any misunderstandings about last year, which saw the Steelers and Panthers trade him and the Ravens and Texans cut him."For sure, for sure. I don't like to speak on a lot of stuff," Johnson said. "Everybody, they're entitled to their own opinion, so I can only go off of what I know and then try to go off what I put out there in my best effort. Last year is last year, I'm trying to turn and change that narrative and move the right way and just keep going."Shedeur Sanders not sweating spot in QB rotation, says he's 'got time' to grow and learnCoach Kevin Stefanski met with Johnson before the Browns signed him, with last year part of the discussion."I had a good talk with Diontae," he said. "I focus on the here and now. I understand the past. I understand there are things that happened in the past, but I'm really focused on today and the future for Diontae."Johnson called the NFL a business and said he couldn't control the lack of interest while he was a free agent."The Browns called and I'm happy to be here and that's all I'm worried about," he said.Johnson said general manager Andrew Berry told him he liked Johnson when he came out in the draft in 2019. The Steelers took him at No. 66 in the third round out of Toledo and he started 67 of 77 games with them, catching 391 passes for 4,363 yards, an 11.2 average and 25 touchdowns. He was a Pro Bowler in 2021, when he set career highs with 107 catches for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns."I'm still in that form," he said of his time with the Steelers. "It's just a matter whenever I get my opportunities and be able to put it on film."He has plenty to prove."Just be myself and prove everybody wrong," he said. "That's my mindset. Keep going. Don't worry about the outside noise. Worry about what goes on between these gates. That's it."Notes: Myles Garrett says Nick Chubb signing with Texans is 'emotional blow'Johnson wasn't at the two weeks of organized team activities that preceded minicamp but said he spent time at the team facility during the offseason program. He played with quarterback Kenny Pickett in Pittsburgh and said he could ask him, Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders if he had any questions but can study the playbook at home and is "on top of my stuff.""Just come in here with a great attitude," Johnson said. "Be a great teammate. Be on time and stuff. Do what I got to do and the rest is going to take care of itself."The Browns could really use Johnson to recapture his Pittsburgh form. They were last in the league last year with 15.2 points a game and have nothing but questions at receiver after Pro Bowler Jerry Jeudy. The Browns would love for Jeudy, Johnson and Cedric Tillman — who missed the end of last season with a concussion and hasn't practiced in minicamp with a minor injury — to emerge as a formidable trio."Just another weapon to the receiver room, offense, make plays," Johnson said of what he can provide. "Could be a help to the young guys and stuff like that."Pickett saw plenty of the productive Johnson during their two years as teammates."He's working really hard at it," Pickett said. "It's great to have him here and I know that he's going to continue to do that."I think he can really help us, the things that he can do with his route-running and ability."Jeudy proved he could be a No. 1 receiver last year in his first season with the Browns after a trade from the Broncos. He set career highs with 90 catches for 1,229 yards, adding four touchdowns."He nice, just him to be able to beat man coverage, get open in zone," Johnson said. "He's a good guy to have on the other side. Whoever's on the opposite side, whether it's a me or whoever it is, it gives them a chance to get one-on-one opportunities."If things work out and Johnson earns a roster spot, he'll take a reunion tour with two matchups against the Steelers and Ravens. He said the meetings would carry extra meaning."You know that," he said. "I'm looking forward to them, for sure."The post Diontae Johnson doesn't want to be defined by 'one bad year,' out to prove everybody wrong first appeared on BrownsZone with Scott Petrak.