Cleveland Browns: 5 Free agents who won’t be back in 2021

4. Kevin Johnson, Cornerback

Another player added by Andrew Berry on a one-year “prove-it” deal was cornerback Kevin Johnson. Originally a first-round pick of the Houston Texans out of Wake Forest in 2015, Johnson was considered one of the most technically sound defensive backs in that class. He then played well as a rookie for the Texans, starting 10 games while appearing in all 16. Johnson was best in the slot and had 54 tackles, an interception, and nine pass defenses that year.

Unfortunately, it would be the only year he played in all 16 games for Houston. Johnson struggled through a myriad of injuries as he played in six games in 2016 and just one in 2018. In between those campaigns, he was able to suit up for 12 games in 2017 but his effectiveness had suffered from his durability issues.

Johnson redeemed himself some in 2019 when he was released by Houston and landed with the Buffalo Bills. For the first time since his rookie season, he played in every game and as a reserve, he proved he can still get the job done. This led to the Browns giving him a one-year deal but Johnson’s tenure in Berea has been up and down.

During training camp, he looked poised for a breakout campaign as he was arguably the best defender in their early practices. Then a freak injury popped up as he suffered a lacerated liver when tackling Harrison Bryant. He has been able to get back on the field but did miss two games this season and hasn’t looked anything like the player we saw in camp. Re-signing Johnson seems like quite the longshot at this point.