Duke Johnson says that he and the Browns are in discussions about a contract extension (Twitter link via Pat McManamon of ESPN.com). The running back also says he is “very optimistic” the two sides will come to an agreement. 
Johnson, 25 in November, has averaged 4.2 yards per carry in his three NFL seasons while playing largely in a backup capacity. In 2017, the Browns often utilized him as a pass-catcher and the results were tremendous. Johnson set new career highs in catches (74) and receiving yards (693) and was a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating season for Cleveland. This year, he’ll serve as the Browns No. 2 ball carrier behind free agent addition Carlos Hyde.
Johnson is set to enter the final year of his rookie deal which will carry a modest $2.084MM cap number. Because he was a third-round pick and not a first-round selection, the Browns do not have the option of extending his deal via the fifth-year option. The franchise tag is technically still in play, but the Browns want to keep that possibility open for other players who are scheduled for unrestricted free agency after the season.
In addition to Hyde and Johnson, the Browns further bolstered the running back group by drafting former Georgia standout Nick Chubb in the second round of last month’s draft.
Browns doing more Browns moves.
Yeah. See no reason for this. Chub will become a beast there anyway
Chubb had all of 31 receptions in 47 games at Georgia. And Carlos Hyde has averaged 5.8 years per reception in four years in the NFL. Johnson fills a niche as a pass-catching back very nicely.
And what’s wrong with re-signing a pass-catching RB? Guys like Duke are extremely valuable in the offensive systems that are deployed in the NFL nowadays.
If they don’t re-sign him he’ll get numerous offers.
Totally agree. I think Johnson has far more value than just as a running back.
Anyone suggesting browns shouldn’t resign Duke doesn’t know how good he is. If only Jackson knew how to utilize him better. He could have a Kamara type impact with the browns if the coaching wasn’t so inept.
With 188 receptions, 1,741 yards (9.3 ypr) and five TD’s in three seasons, how exactly is Jackson failing to utilize him?
He should get more touches…. if Duke doesn’t get the ball, we are more than likely giving it to a lesser player. I assume he only has ~400 rushing yards a year? Not enough. Do you watch browns games? I find it funny that Hue Jackson has an online defender after a 1-31 record.
Isiah Crowell has the same career yards per carry as Johnson, 4.2, has run for touchdowns at a higher rate – 35 runs per TD vs. Johnson’s 52:1 – and has only six fumbles in 833 touches to Johnson’s 7 in 470, and those two hae completely dominated the running back snaps over the last three years for the Browns. If you want to make the argument that the Browns should have been running the ball a lot more instead of passing, you might be right, but at least you’d be making an argument instead of insulting me for asking a seemingly reasonable question.
By the way, the Browns had the 10th ranked defense in points against this year, Drew Brees and Michael Thomas, while the Browns had the 31st rated defense, DeShone Keizer, Kevin Hogan, Cody Kessler and…and…and “Bleh!” at wide receiver, so I doubt the Saints were chasing as many leads as the Browns were. I’m sure Jackson deserves a ton of criticism, but under-utilizing Duke Johnson seems to this non-Browns fan to be the least of his mistakes.
Duke will probably actually be the #3 rusher, because Nick Chubb will get a lot of carries too.
That said, I really want him to stay with the Browns because he’s such a weapon on offense. The Browns finally used him a little more last year, and the results were great.
What the nay-sayers here don’t `Get and don’t want to get, is that the Browns are in a position to sign Duke (Miami Hurricanes all time leading rusher) without consequence. Later when he is signed and Chubb starts to become the man, Duke can be traded for a Kings ransom. Perspective: At 25, Duke is the oldest veteran “among draft picks” for the Browns. This team is amazingly young and talented… The Browns are finally starting to see the payoffs by having the youngest team in the NFL over the last few seasons. Those uber-valuable game reps are going to payoff similar to Jacksonville… The Browns still have the most in cap space and there are no bad contracts… This team is going to shock all the fair weather, bandwagon fans who only look at past record, or just regurgitate what they hear on ESPN. From reading some of these comments is a lot of people…
Except Johnson and Chubb are different backs and complement each other. They won’t need to trade Duke if Chubb becomes a studd back.