Browns’ unexpected move to sign former Texas WR Isaiah Bond may help push a former Pro Bowler out of Cleveland
Cleveland has some tough decisions to make following their latest move.
The Cleveland Browns have taken an unexpected route in hopes of upgrading their wide receiver room.
Former Texas Longhorns and Alabama Crimson Tide wideout Isaiah Bond was charged with sexual assault around the time of the draft, which pushed teams away from selecting the speedy receiver. That case was no-billed last week, and the Browns quickly signed Bond to a three-year deal. The contract structure all but guarantees Bond will be part of Cleveland’s 2025 roster despite entering the league as an undrafted free agent.
Isaiah Bond may have helped push a veteran wideout off the Browns’ roster soon
The first couple of weeks of training camp went well for former Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl wideout Diontae Johnson, but the past two weeks have been a different story. Johnson, who is fighting for a roster spot, has dealt with drops both in preseason action and during joint practices with the Eagles.
Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman, Jamari Thrash, and now Bond appear to be locks for roster spots. Cleveland gave Bond just over $3 million guaranteed on his three-year deal, signaling significant investment. Johnson is now battling Kaden Davis, Gage Larvadain, DeAndre Carter, and David Bell for the remaining wide receiver spots. While Johnson isn’t a true slot receiver—where Bond’s speed could give him an edge—he still looks like a fringe roster candidate at best. Bond’s arrival may have dealt a major blow to Johnson’s chances.
The Browns don’t have much veteran leadership in the receiver room, and Johnson is the most experienced player among the group. However, his past locker room reputation doesn’t help his case, and he isn’t a major contributor on special teams—two factors working against him.
Cleveland is expected to keep six wide receivers, and with four spots already secured following Bond’s addition, the final two jobs remain up for grabs. The last week of training camp and the upcoming preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams will go a long way in deciding how the position group rounds out.
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