The Cleveland Browns have signed running back Duke Johnson to a three-year extension worth $15.6 million with a $5 million signing bonus and $7.7 million guaranteed.
Terms: The #Browns are signing RB Duke Johnson to a 3-year contract extension worth $15.6M, source said. He gets a $5M signing bonus.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 7, 2018
Guarantees: $7.7m. The average of $5m+ makes him top 10 in RB pay. Versatile threat gets his payday now in advance of the final year of his rookie deal. https://t.co/Fs7yxrY7CN
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) June 7, 2018
From an outsider’s perspective, this is a puzzling move. After all, the Browns signed Carlos Hyde in free agency and then selected Nick Chubb in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
And while Johnson is a completely different type of running back — he’s more of a third-down specialist and receiving threat — the Browns already have a top-tier possession receiver who gobbles up targets like none other in Jarvis Landry.
It’s going to be fascinating to see how the Browns utilized Johnson going forward. In three NFL seasons, he’s racked up 2,826 yards and 10 touchdowns from scrimmage.