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Cleveland Browns: D’Ernest Johnson contract increases trade value

By Elliot Kennel

Oct 21, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns running back D'Ernest Johnson (30) celebrates with tackle Jedrick Wills (71) and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) after rushing for a first down and securing the game during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns running back D'Ernest Johnson (30) celebrates with tackle Jedrick Wills (71) and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) after rushing for a first down and securing the game during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland Browns
Jul 25, 2019; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt (27) talks with running back Nick Chubb (24) during training camp at the Cleveland Browns Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

The impact of Johnson’s deal on Kareem Hunt

“Hey Browns! Remember my guy? Where’s his?”

That would be Dan Saffron, Kareem Hunt’s agent, calling Andrew Berry about five minutes after Scott Petrak of the Chronicle-Telegram and Medina Gazette broke the story that D’Ernest Johnson had a deal with the Browns.

Hunt’s deal is in its last year and is at $6.25 million. However, he has no guaranteed money season. Hunt had 560 yards from scrimmage last season versus 671 from Johnson. In his Cleveland career, Hunt has averaged 723 yards from scrimmage over three years. 2020 was his only suspension-free, injury-free season, and he totaled 1,145.

On a per-snap basis, for their respective Browns careers, Hunt has 2,169 TYFS in 1091 snaps (1.99 TYFS/snap), and Johnson has 943 yards in 457 (2.06 TYFS/snap). Both are excellent, but Johnson’s stats are slightly better. Of course, Hunt is in actuality more valuable because he has seen more action, but still, Johnson has done very well, thank you.

However, if anyone needs a dose of humility, Nick Chubb has 5,567 yards in 2,002 snaps, 2.78 yards per snap. If you are wondering about Jim Brown’s numbers, we don’t know because they did not keep track of snaps back in those days, but he would be similar to Chubb.

No doubt, much of the success of the Cleveland running game is due to their offensive line with Pro Bowl-caliber play from Joel Bitonio, J.C Tretter (since departed), Wyatt Teller, and Jack Conklin (injured part of the season). However, Jed Wills was inconsistent on the left side, and the Browns never did successfully replace Conklin when he went down.

They gave up 49 sacks, sixth-worst in the NFL. Pass blocking reflects more on the ability of the weakest link on the line, whereas run blocking favors the strength of the line. Nevertheless, the running backs are probably pretty good, and it’s not just all due to the offensive line as some critics have suggested.

Both Hunt and Johnson are scheduled to leave as unrestricted free agents next season. The actual formula for compensatory free agents is kept secret by the NFL, though some of the experts, notably Jason Fitzgerald of Over The ap, can guess what a player might bring. For our purposes, it’s enough to know that teams who lose more free agents than they sign are eligible for compensatory free agents.

To compare, running back Jamaal Williams was signed to a deal in 2021 for two years and $6 million, $3.25 million guaranteed. Green Bay was awarded a seventh-round pick in 2022.

Kenyan Drake signed a deal for two years, $11 million, which was fully guaranteed. That resulted in a sixth-round pick for Arizona. Drake was 27 years old and was coming off a season in which he produced 1,092 yards from scrimmage.

If Hunt and Johnson go free agent in 2023, the Browns could probably obtain compensatory picks in 2024. The assumption is that they can’t possibly sign more free agents with so many contracts expiring next season ( Jack Conklin, Jadeveon Clowney, Jacoby Brissett, Anthony Walker, Taven Bryan, Chris Hubbard, Greedy Williams, Ronnie Harrison, Ethan Pocic, Josh Dobbs, Charley Hughlett, Sheldon Day, Sione Takitaki).

Next. Curtain pulled back on Baker Mayfield, OBJ drama. dark

Conversely, if a team traded a Day 3 pick for Hunt right now, they would have a good chance to earn it back in 2024 by doing nothing except let him play and have a good season.

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