As WR Diontae Johnson ran his route during an 11-on-11 period in minicamp, he turned and caught a pass from QB Shedeur Sanders near the sideline, staying in bounds to secure the ball.
In the Browns' second day of mandatory minicamp, Johnson took reps in individual and team drills as he works to become acclimated to a new offensive system.
"Diontae's doing a nice job. Obviously getting up to speed with terminology and those types of things, and I think we'll just continue to work. But it's good to have him out here," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "Another veteran player that has had success in this league. We've gone against him, so I know what type of player he is, having been in the division with him, so know his skill set. But another veteran player."
Johnson first signed with the Browns in March during the 2025 offseason. After playing his first five seasons with the Steelers, Johnson was traded to the Panthers in March 2024. He played seven games before he was then traded to the Ravens, in which he played four games with one start. Johnson was then waived by the Ravens in December 2024 but was claimed off waivers by the Texans. In Houston, Johnson played one game where he totaled two receptions for 12 receiving yards.
Johnson has appeared in 89 total games with 75 career starts in his six seasons in the NFL. He has totaled 424 receptions for 4,738 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns.
Get an inside look at the Cleveland Browns' offseason training as players gear up and go through drills during Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
The defensive line during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (38) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (38) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson (16) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Running back Ahmani Marshall (39) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Wide receiver Cade McDonald (31) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Cornerback Tony Brown II (11) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Cornerback Anthony Kendall (44) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Defensive Quality Control Coach Jeff Anderson during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Cornerback Nik Needham (25) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
The defensive line during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (1) and Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) and Offensive guard Brady Latham (64) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
The practice fields during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (38) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski and the team during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Offensive tackle Jason Ivey (72) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (1) and Safety Grant Delpit (9) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Linebackers Coach Jason Tarver during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Offensive tackle Jackson Barton (68) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Cornerback Chigozie Anusiem (35) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Cornerback LaMareon James (27) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Offensive tackle Julian Pearl (60) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Offensive guard Dartanyan Tinsley (65) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) and Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (37) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Long snapper Brent Matiscik (48) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
The practice fields during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Long snapper Brent Matiscik (48) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Long snapper Brent Matiscik (48) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
The practice fields during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Equipment during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Long snapper Brent Matiscik (48) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Assistant Offensive Line Coach Ben Wilkerson during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson (69) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Long snapper Rex Sunahara (50) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Fullback Troy Hairston (36) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
A helmet during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025.
Now with the Browns, Johnson has the chance to add veteran depth to the receiving corps and earn his role as a pass-catching threat across from WR Jerry Jeudy. Johnson said the Browns were the only team that reached out in the offseason about signing him to their roster and noted how Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager shared with him that he like Johnson's game coming out of the draft in 2019.
"I'm thankful to just get another opportunity to be here," Johnson said. "(Taking) it one day at a time, control what I can control and make the most of my opportunities."
Johnson has used OTAs and minicamp to learn the Browns offense and the playbook to bring himself up to speed. Yet, even as he learns the nuances of Stefanski's offense, Johnson believes he is still in the form that he was in during his years at the Steelers and is prepared to showcase his receiver form once again with the Browns.
In his five years with the Steelers, Johnson appeared in 77 total games with 67 starts with the Steelers, recording 391 receptions for 4,363 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns, as well as 19 carries for 134 rushing yards with Pittsburgh. He was also named to the NFL All-Pro Second team as a punt return specialist following his rookie season in 2019.
He also said his relationship with QB Kenny Pickett – who spent time with Johnson while the two were with the Steelers from 2022-23 – was part of the reason that he decided to sign with Cleveland. And Pickett said now that they are back on the same team together, he has been trying to help Johnson acclimate to the Browns.
"I was talking to him a lot today on the field in the two-minute period, going through the play calls with him, where he would be if he was at Z or X or F and kind of talking him through each play," Pickett said. "So, he's working really hard at it. It's great to have him here and I know that he's going to continue that."
As a quarterback who has played with Johnson, Pickett believes Johnson's route running ability and his ability to create separation in one-on-one situations will be an asset to their receiving corps.
"I think he does a really good job of getting separation at the line, at the top of his routes," Pickett said. "In and out of cuts, I think is probably his biggest strength. He gets in and out really well. So, a lot of those third down, possession down, route running, which you need to be precise at, I think he can bring that."
As Johnson looks to start a new chapter of his career in this season with the Browns, he wants to go out on the field and allow his game to speak for itself.
"I want to make the most of my opportunities when I get them, cheer on my teammates and be a great teammate," Johnson said.
