5 best moves of the Cleveland Browns 2021 offseason
By Sam Penix
1. Signing John Johnson III
If you want to improve your secondary, it’s probably not a bad idea to bring in 40% of the league’s best unit. Johnson was one of, if not the top safety on the market, and the Browns had a big need.
A few hours after free agency tampering opened, Cleveland struck a deal with Johnson, signing him to a three-year deal worth a total of $33.75 million, a steal for a player of his caliber.
Even better, Johnson’s contract is structured to provide the team maximum flexibility. He will count just $3.65 million against the cap in 2021, and with an $8.85 million void year for 2024, he can be extended following 2023, or let go in favor of a Grant Delpit extension. Contract sequencing is something that this front office will be doing a lot of, and Johnson is a perfect example of it.
On the field, he’s a fantastic leader, having called the signals for the league’s best unit under defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. He excels when playing in two or three safety looks, roaming the area within 20 yards of the line of scrimmage, matching up with tight ends, and providing run support.
He’s an extremely cerebral player, and while he isn’t ideal as a deep angel, he does have the ability to do it, which will give Joe Woods plenty of options.
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Johnson is a game-changer for this defense. For how good a player he is, his contract is of tremendous value.