DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns Release John Johnson

Dumbfounded by this move if accurate. This only saves the Browns $900,000 in cap space and the team will be charged 12.6M against the 2023 cap because of all the prorated bonus they used on Johnson. Why would you cut a guy for a savings of $900,000, get nothing in return, and be left holding the bag for 12.6M?

He might be a post June cut???

2023 Dead Cap: $3,750,000
2024 Dead Cap: $8,850,000
2023 Cap Savings: $9,750,000

That's not what is being reported. The initial report is he is a March 15th cut.

NFL Trade News
@NFLTradeNews
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1m
RapSheet: RT
@MikeGarafolo
: The #Browns will release S John Johnson III at the start of the league year on March 15, barring a trade, sources say. Johnson was entering the final year of a three-year contract he signed as a free agent in 2021.

Browns plan to cut John Johnson at start of league year
Posted by Michael David Smith on February 28, 2023, 8:18 AM EST

Browns safety John Johnson III is on the way out in Cleveland.

The Browns plan to cut Johnson at the start of the league year on March 15 unless they can find a trade partner, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

He'll still be released in March if they can't trade him. This is just like the Austin Hooper situation.

It's a matter of when the Browns can use the cap space, I believe.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...ave-9-5-million-in-cap-space-per-report/

I'm a little surprised by this move. Especially the timing of it.

Other than the money; what's intriguing to me is the "why" of it? Was Schwartz involved in the decision? Did he determine that JJIII was not a good fit in his defense? Were the Browns sick of him running his mouth? Do they think he was a negative influence on the younger players due to him sharing inside stuff w/the media?

I ask these questions because single high [FSs] are so hard to find? Who could replace him? Those guys aren't often available and could be expensive. I don't see any guys in the draft that can play that position. I guess Bates and CJ Gardner-Johnson are the two candidates. They will cost a lot.

I see, you're right - I'm wrong - missed the exact wording (released instead or cut). Unfortunately, it doesn't change the fact that the browns will now eat 2023 Dead Cap: $3,750,000 and 2024 Dead Cap: $8,850,000 for Johnson. Just like they're eating 7.5M for Hooper in 2023, 6.4M in 2023 for Clowney, and 2.372M for Walker in 2023 if they don't resign him.

However, this does clearly state that the cut is at the start of the league year. Guess we'll have to wait for the official report from the Browns.

Sounds like this is the prelude for a serious push
For Jessie Bates. It's not the 1st time the Browns
Have signed away top tier talent from the Bengals

He was such a bust of a signing, whether it was on him or the team IDK. Disappointing time here

I’m a little surprised at the timing of the release but not moving on from JJIII. His cap savings will essentially cover the new rookie contracts.

Probably the Browns doing right by the player by making the move now so JJIII can catch on with a new team when FA starts.

#D’AnthonyBellSZN


Quick side note: JJIII’s time with the Browns was a bit of strange one.

Yeah we try on the good side of agents if possible

Finally, a decision made by the Browns management that is based on a player's performance on the football field.

Pre June 1st release will only save $900,000

JJIII was an exciting signing. He was an absolute flop. So many blown coverages, so many busted coverages.

There are a few players in the league at any given time who are like the sun, everything orbits and benefits around them. Aaron Donald is one of those players. Very infrequently do these ancillary player around them go on and produce at the same level, this is why PFF rankings are dicey in free agency.

Mark this down as a major miss for this FO.

Well he's going to be cut (I highly doubt anyone trades for him).

Assuming you are correct and we save $900K and he counts as $12.6M against the cap in 2023.

What is the hit in 2024 if he is cut after June 1st? Maybe it's as simple as looking when the rest of the team (MG, DW, Ward etc) have big hits to the salary cap? Any chance that we have more space in 2023 than we do in 2024 and we want JJ3's contract to be 100% off the books come 2024?

John Johnson III speaks after the report of his release

Cory Kinnan
February 28, 2023 9:59 am ET

After the news broke that the Cleveland Browns would release safety John Johnson III, the former Pro Bowler has released a statement to Cleveland dot com’s Mary Kay Cabot:

“I appreciate the Cleveland Browns for the opportunity. The city is truly one of a kind. I wish that I could’ve done more while here; however, I know that my best ball is ahead of me. I pray great things for my former teammates.”


Johnson III has a chance to return to form if he falls into a system that once again allows him to creep back up toward the line of scrimmage rather than playing at a true free safety post. Free agency is set to open up on March 15.


https://brownswire.usatoday.com/202...medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

I find it odd that Jordan Poyer is never mentioned as a possibility in Cleveland.

Berry figures "heck if I can't address the safety position by drafting and
developing one might as well get a FA that is already DEVELOPED and I can possibly
Weaken a division rival."

Ugh every time I see Jordan Poyer I am reminded of our own ineptitude.

If the Browns say a post June 1, then Johnson will be on the books in 2024 for 8.850M.

Isn't D'Anthony Bell more of a SS?

It was more tongue-in-cheek. Not sure who they intend to play the position. I do not buy the notion of them signing Bates. He'll cost a lot of money and Delpit will be up for a new contract after this season. Too much money allocated to the safety position. Also, if they did sign Bates, it will tie their hands on what they can spend on the DL.

Having watched how Berry and Depo operate, it would strike me as odd they would cut a guy to free up cap space only to sign a more expensive player the same position.

Someone like Adrian Amos would make more sense if you want a vet back there with Delpit. He'd be relatively cheap and could probably get on a two year deal. Maybe LaMarcus Joyner on a one year deal. These push the age guardrails, but do not believe it's an issue on short term deals.

People often times change their strategy when everything is on the line. I think those running the show realize the leash on winning is only so long and it's almost reached its limits. At that point it's only natural they would pull out all of the stops.

JJ3 was the Browns trying to put a square peg in a round hole, he played both safety positions while with the Rams but graded out as elite when he played the SS position, so what do we do, we play him at FS. As for Bates I don't think we can afford him, I see us signing a guy like Juan Thornhill from the Chiefs who actually plays FS and according to PFF's rankings tied for 20th among all Safties.

As to restructuring Watson, wonder if we are waiting until Baltimore tags Lamar? Cost them a few extra bucks.

Title should probably be Browns leak potential JJIII release to gauge potential trade interest.

100% we are. I said we would a couple months ago. If the whole league is going to act like we're back-stabbers; may as well twist the knife a bit once it's in... especially for a division rival.

What difference does that make? Watson's contract is fully guaranteed and that won't change no matter how it's structured. The reports are that the hold up with Lamar is over the guaranteed portion of the contract. Nothing the Browns can do will change the amount watson is guaranteed.

I think that he means it will effect the franchise tag money.

The franchise tag amount is the average of the top five salaries at each position for each year. Lowering Watson's salary would lower the tag amount for Lamar... so we wait until after he's tagged.

J/C

I think the tags are already set, and what we do with Watson wouldn't have any effect until next year.

That was my understanding as well.

Ahh, I didn't realize that. My bad.

I figured you were joking a bit about Bell, but I thought I'd ask anyway.

I agree w/you about Bates. Maybe it's my own personal bias, but I don't want our FA money spent on Bates. I'd rather bolster the DL. Amos is a possibility and he is a guy I've been looking at. He's been good for a long time, but had a down year last year.

Two other guys I like that might not cost too much are Julian Love from the Giants and Jimmy Ward from SF.