Browns RB Duke Johnson agrees to contract extension
The Cleveland Browns have spent much of the offseason restructuring the roster after a disastrous 2017 season where they finished 0-16 for the first time in franchise history.
The front office put forth another notable move this week with the decision to further stabilize their backfield by inking veteran running back Duke Johnson to a three-year, $15.6 million extension, according to ESPN.
The contract is worth $15.6 million, with $7.74 million guaranteed, sources told ESPN’s Josina Anderson.
Johnson was in the final year of his four-year, $3.1 million rookie deal heading into the 2018 season where he would have made nearly $1.9 million. The decision to ink him to a new long-term avoids the possibility of him moving on elsewhere next March in free agency.
The 24-year-old has proven to be a valuable asset in the offense out of the backfield with his unique versatility as a runner and a receiver out of the backfield. He put together his most productive campaign in 2017 where he posted career highs with 74 receptions for 693 receiving yards along with three touchdowns.
Johnson will be a part of a crowded backfield with plenty of talent that includes offseason addition Carlos Hyde along with rookie Nick Chubb. This could see the Browns go with more a running back by committee approach simply because of the stacked talent in the backfield. The playing time could be harder to come by, but the former Miami product has likely found his niche as an effective receiving option.
