DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns working to sign Duke Johnson to an extension

If we get to the point where he does test the market - I will likely already have the mindset that he's as good as gone.

they were saying on the radio he mad they draft a RB... made change to his twitter account... not sure if i believe it though.

Hopefully, one way or the other, the grass is greener here. Whether contract, wins, chemistry, the new OC, BM, or whatever, showcase him so he wants to stay here. Just hoping we make this happen.

Has Dorsey been known to keep his own? We need some of that loyalty thing out there if we want to receive it. The ideas we can imagine with Duke in a double slot are dangerous to defenses. The X and O game can get crazy. Maybe Hue can do more of that and less with the PS, time better spent perhaps.

Let him be mad. He could have already been signed.
We only get to draft at one time of the year, so if we were going to protect ourselves, it had to be now.

Sounds like he needs to get to work.

he would rather play as a slot we anyways he doesn't even like being a rb. His words not mine.

If anybody should be upset it's Carlos Hyde. I think Duke will be just fine. He should be a 10 carry back at most per game, in on third and long often.

Hopefully we get a deal done and he can keep playing here.

The guy is one of the few bright spots on this offense and he's improved every season. Real professional in that sense in my book.

Ooooops ...

Why would Hyde be upset? The ink on his contract is dry, the money is going into his account... and now he gets that money for half the pounding... and Duke is going to get the touches he was going to get anyway with just Hyde....

I figure the same reason Ben Tate was all upset with Terrance West and Isiah Crowell.


I mean, these guys are competitors. They certainly play for the check, but they wouldn't get where they've gotten without the love of competing and the game of itself.

If Hyde is just content with sitting around and getting a paycheck, he should be shown the door. The guy should want to at least compete

I'm sure he does want to compete.. question is, does he want to compete by getting 10-15 touches a game for 5 more years.. or getting 25 touches a game for the next 2 years? Hyde will be 28 when next season starts... Chubb could extend his career by a couple years....

Plus, as an NFL franchise, your goal is to win (Yes, even the Browns have that as a goal, I saw it on the wall in Berea once)... RBs get hurt, you have to have more than one who can run the football.. and Duke isn't that other guy. So Hyde needs to put away his pride and be a part of the team.

Hyde had to have an inkling that we were drafting a RB fairly early. Whether it was Barkley or someone in the 2nd round. He can't be naive enough to think that he's getting all of his years/dollars.

But he has a chance to prove it with this first year and see what happens.

Duke Johnson 'Very Optimistic' He'll Sign Contract Extension with Browns

Rob Goldberg May 23, 2018

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/27775...ion-with-browns

Although Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson is heading into the final year of his rookie contract, he said Wednesday he is "very optimistic" he will get a contract extension with the team, per Pat McManamon of ESPN.com.

"I believe not only the staff but the front office wants me here," Johnson added. "It's just about both sides coming to an agreement."

The 24-year-old has split time in the backfield with Isaiah Crowell throughout his three-year career, never topping 400 rushing yards in a season. However, he has established himself as an excellent receiver out of the backfield, which was especially important last year with few reliable pass-catchers on the roster.

Johnson led the Browns with 74 catches and 693 receiving yards in 2017, while his seven total touchdowns were by far a career high.

The team has upgraded the rest of the backfield by signing Carlos Hyde to a three-year deal and drafting Nick Chubb in the second round, creating somewhat of a logjam even with Crowell leaving in free agency. Still, Johnson's skills as a receiver remain integral to the offense.

Hyde has only 634 receiving yards in his four years in the NFL, while Chubb caught just four passes at Georgia last season.

This has caused the Browns to search for a new deal for Johnson throughout much of the offseason.

"They absolutely want to keep him," Michael Silver of NFL Network said in March, although he noted the two sides are far apart on money.

Although a deal is still not completed, the optimism from Johnson seems like a positive sign going forward.

If we want him here, and he wants to be here - it'll get done.

Wasn't that same thing said about Pryor ?

Duke is easily our best and smartest offensive weapon. I would pay him handsomely. And soon.

Sure hope so. He's very underrated in the NFL.

He's improved every year

We offered him a contract, he went on and played on a one year ordeal elsewhere. Like I said, if "we" want him here, and "they" want to be here - it'll get done. Takes two to tango.

I think the quotation marks are better served around the word want. If we "want" him here or they "want" to be here, it will get done.

Different regime, but it probably falls under all regimes... Had we wanted Pryor we would have signed him at his pricetag. If he wanted to be here he would have signed at our pricetag.

The previous regime did a remarkable job knowing the player's market value. ...But it kinda bit them in the derriere. Also, it actually might have been better if we weren't the Browns.

Duke is more a value and etc than Pryor since we're talking about him now. TP was a one year WR with not a bad showing but clearly needed some work and etc. Duke is Duke, lethal and versatile at almost everything he does. His blocking is even okay.

BUT, I do agree with you. All the factors that play in, it really isn't as simple/blunt as my statement made it seem.

Dorsey isn't gonna re-sign him. Almost guaranteed. He'll likely replace him in next year's draft or FA.

Have a feeling you might be right .

That's been my feeling of late. I think Dorsey might not be willing to pay what Duke is asking, what he might get in FA? But why not spend a few bucks on a proven baller and keep a homegrown guy?

j/c

Jamel White was another baller/playmaker on another sub-par Browns team. I loved watching him play like I do Duke.

These style utility backs tend to stand out in terms of production and statistics when not much else is going right.

I hope we find a way to reasonably extend him, but if things start popping in the slot and between the guards this season, Dorsey will understandably be less inclined.

IMO.

Gordon and Landry disagree.

Johnson has been our best because everything else has been trash.

If he wants anything close to Bell $ he can take a hike.

6-8m a year MAX.

See, i think Duke is a far better runner than Jamel White was. Better pass catcher, but a far better runner.

I guess i can see how you see a 3rd down back/playmaker. But I think Duke can be far more than a third down back. But we do need to preserve his touches, as I don't think he can take the wear and tear a 30 carry a game can (like Stephen Jackson and Jamal Lewis would)

With the personal on this team .... 6 - 10 touches a game is a good range for Duke this year ...

With the lack of talent last year i though 12 - 15 a game would have been a good spot ...

Thank God we have other playmakers this year ...

j/c

I try to look at the moves a FO makes to get some indication of how they may move forward. First they signed a solid RB in the FA market in Hyde. Next they drafted a similar style RB in the second round of the draft in Chubb. What this allows them to do is keep the same plays in the playbook no matter which RB is in the game without any real change in style.

Secondly they went out and signed what I believe was the best WR on the market that plays heavily in the slot.

Whether I like it or not, I'm not sure in this situation that what this FO feels Dukes value to this team will come close to what Duke feels his value is as a player.

I get nervous about this too.

I value Duke a lot. I think he's one of the guys who really cares too.

I am just not sure the FO feels that way. Although, i'm hoping more-so that it's an indication that Hyde will be moved out after this coming season than Duke.

I just don't see Duke and Hyde staying here with Chubb as well. Not after Chubb's rookie season

As I have said before , Chubb will be a wait and see in the pass game ; catching or Blocking ..

Blocking is key. It's a big difference between playing and not playing for many rookie RBs.

We know Hyde can block. We know Duke can block. If Chubb can't, it makes our QBs vulnerable OR is a tell that we're going to run the ball.

It's one of those things that doesn't get glorified, but is very important.

Especially with a team like ours that's going to be weak at the left tackle position.


That's the best thing Nick Chubb could do to try and get himself playing time. Learn/show the ability to be an adequate blocker as a RB in the NFL

j/c:

This is an honest question. Did I miss something that would indicate that the FO might not want to keep Duke? Or, are people just saying that because we acquired two backs this off season?

I think we're aiming to keep Duke, but maybe others think the fact that contract talks have been so drawn out may indicate otherwise.

I think that people are concerned because the Browns are in contact with Duke's agent, but are apart on money.

This isn't at all surprising at this point. It's hard to re-sign a quality player, unless you overpay him. It's just the nature of the beast in a free agency world.

I sure hope we re-up him for another 4 years. He's a high quality weapon, and will be very useful, even in a 3 back rotation.

Also, one thing that I think a lot of people miss, is that we will, hopefully, have a lot more opportunities for all of our backs, as we maintain drives, instead of having the constant 3 and outs, and excessive turnovers, we had last year.

I don't believe you missed anything. My opinion was purely speculative based on the moves the team has made. And my assertion was strictly based on the value they place on Duke with the acquisitions they have invested in during the off season. I mean every player has a role and how needed and critical that role is I believe to be dependent on what monetary value that team places on players.

In other words, the Browns may wish to keep him, but when looking at the investments made, and where they were made, will Dukes worth to the team be close to the worth that Duke feels is proper?

I can't think of a team that spends heavily in three RB's. They made it clear that Hyde and Chubb were where their investments were placed at the RB position. So how much is that third back worth to them?

A lot of people spoke about Dukes value in the slot. So while I think we both understand that Landry's value is much more than a slot WR, he is certainly a top 2 or 3 slot WR in the entire NFL. So at that point, what do the Browns value Duke's role as a slot WR?

Duke is most certainly a good player. He adds value to the O. There are teams out there which may really value a player like Duke given their circumstances. I'm just looking at the investments we made in the off season. I'm looking at moves they've made at the RB and slot WR positions.

Given those circumstances I'm simply saying what this FO values Duke at may not be in the neighborhood of what Duke feels his worth should be.

u line up Gordon/Landry at #1 &2 ... duke could play slot in those formations ... if that puts the best 3 on the field u do that vs Gordon/? For 1 and 2 and then Landry in the slot ...

What combo is best for that particular play against that particular D ...

Also sometimes u have 4 we sets .... Landry and duke could both be “slot” guys in those sets ...

Duke has a ton of value to this team ... i know u know that ... don’t get caught up in titles .. just Iike Jarvis ... THE MAN CAN BALL ...

I agree 100% about the value perception from both sides ... tell the FO to not get caught up in titles the man can flat out ball ... *LOL* ..

Okay, thanks guys.

I really was wondering if I missed something. I haven't been following along as closely as I have in the past.

What would you estimate his average value is - lets say on a 3 or 4 year deal?

I'd have to assume that the be in the $3m range/year average. I would also assume he's comparing himself to James White or Theo Riddick which are closer to $4m/year. I can't see him getting that unless Chubb makes Hyde expendible.

I really have no idea. I hope we keep him though. Any time you can keep an asset that helps your team have yet another dimension it's a good thing.

I certainly consider him a valuable asset. If I had to venture a guess I would have to say that I believe your estimate is in the ballpark.