The Patriots were expected to be in the trade market for a wide receiver this offseason, as they weren't able to make any big-time moves last year. They were rumored to be looking to hit the jackpot before the deadline last October, but another losing season took the possibility off the table. Instead, it gave Mike Vrabel the means to explore it this year.
Although they haven't done so yet, they are still equipped with the salary cap to do so, with some players potentially becoming available before the season begins. Despite that, some of the players that may have been deemed a good fit but chose to avoid them should be applauded, with the leading name being wide receiver Diontae Johnson.
The now-controversial player has generated numerous unfavorable headlines for himself since leaving the Steelers after the 2023 season. He spent time with three teams last year —the Panthers, Ravens, and Texans —and made it easy for teams to overlook him in free agency ahead of the upcoming season.
Johnson has now signed with the Browns, but his latest admission proves the Patriots were right to pass on him even more than anyone previously thought.
Mike Vrabel proves to have used good judgment in not signing Dionate Johnson to the Patriots
Because of his chaotic 2024 season playing a part in not being a desirable option for receiver-needy teams this offseason, Johnson has plenty of questions to answer, even after signing with Cleveland.
He chose to address some of those during a recent appearance on the "Sports and Suits" podcast, where he revealed the reason he got suspended by the Ravens late in the year, and it's almost shocking he was willing to admit it out loud.
WR Diontae Johnson just admitted he refused to enter a game in 41° weather last year in Baltimore because he felt “ice cold” 🥶
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) June 24, 2025
its a good thing he’s playing this year in…
<checks notes>
CLEVELAND 😭 pic.twitter.com/sE11z4yYTh
The fact that he basically quit on the Ravens because it was cold is a terrible look, especially since he just joined another team that plays in the cold every season.
That is something the Patriots could have dealt with had they signed Johnson; the cold would have been a problem for him in Foxboro as well. It's a wild thing to admit you did when nothing had been revealed about why you were suspended, which kind of makes the situation even worse.
The Patriots were wise to pass on potentially signing him, which they could have easily done, and instead chose to bring in Stefon Diggs and draft Kyle Williams. They've also lucked out with the early rise of UDFA Efton Chism, who could be a superstar in the making in Josh McDaniels' offense.