Jets could take a chance on polarizing WR fighting to save his NFL career

We have reached the point in the NFL offseason where the rumor mill is swirling — trade rumors are flying and plenty of movement is expected ahead of the Aug. 26 roster deadline. And as usual, the New York Jets are at the center of those discussions.

It’s no secret that Gang Green is in dire need of receiver help, and they have no shortage of options. While the team has been linked to players like Jakobi Meyers, Romeo Doubs, and Alec Pierce — as well as free agents like Amari Cooper — the team’s most realistic addition is a more unexpected name.

After signing with the Cleveland Browns earlier this offseason, Diontae Johnson joined his fifth NFL team in the last two seasons. He crashed and burned in Carolina and has bounced around the league since then, but the former Pro Bowler makes plenty of sense as a chain mover for Justin Fields.

Despite character concerns, Diontae Johnson is a perfect fit for the WR-needy Jets

In 2024, Johnson amassed a career-low 375 receiving yards and just three touchdowns, most of which came in seven starts with the Panthers. Due to attitude problems that date back to his time in Pittsburgh, the Toledo product was traded to Baltimore at the trade deadline, where he lasted just four games and hardly saw the field.

The attitude concerns will always be a red flag, but the pedigree is undeniable. The 29-year-old surpassed 850 receiving yards in three straight seasons from 2020 until 2022 and caught over 100 passes for nearly 1,2000 yards in his Pro Bowl campaign in 2021. He may not be that same player, but he remains a reliable short-yardage option for any team.

The crazy part is that Johnson has struggled in Browns camp, and there’s a real chance he doesn’t even crack the 53-man roster. Jamari Thrash has seemingly supplanted him as Cleveland’s WR3, and with Isaiah Bond also in the fold, the Jets could look to pounce on a pass-catcher on the outside looking in.

Behind Garrett Wilson, the Jets don’t have much, and the Florida native could make sense for the team. Neither Josh Reynolds nor Tyler Johnson is a quality WR2, but Diontae Johnson has thrived as a secondary option before, as he did it behind Juju Smith-Schuster to begin his career. 

For the Jets, it comes down to risk versus reward. Johnson may never rediscover his Pro Bowl form, but on a roster desperate for receiving depth, he represents the kind of low-cost, high-upside gamble that could pay off in a big way.

And for a Jets team that isn’t expected to throw the ball at a high volume, the former third-round pick could serve as a security blanket for Justin Fields — all while potentially salvaging his NFL career.

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