NFL: Browns extend early with Duke Johnson

The Cleveland Browns have long-term plans with Duke Johnson: The Running Back received a new contract in Cleveland on Thursday – even before his inexpensive rookie contract had expired.

Johnson would have actually gone into his final year of contract, but instead agreed a new three-year contract with the Browns on Thursday.

According to NFL network insider Ian Rapoport, this should be worth up to 15.6 million dollars, 7.7 million of which are guaranteed. The signature bonus is five million dollars.

Cleveland’s backfield remains heavily occupied: The Browns first hired ex-49ers-Back Carlos Hyde in this year’s Free Agency, before Nick Chubb was picked up in the second round of the drag.

Johnson, however, is and remains the best receiving back of this team. In 2017 he recorded the third most receiving yards (693) and the fourth most receptions (74) of all running backs in the league – and was usually the only real ray of hope in an otherwise very inconsistent Brown’s open.

In the offense of the new offensive coordinator Todd Haley, who comes from Pittsburgh and worked with Le’Veon Bell there, he could play an even bigger role in passing.