DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns sign G Zion Johnson

He should be a HUGE upgrade and help free up options in the draft.

My bad, I thought he was a RG, so this is the final clue to Bitonio not returning? I'm not sure he is an upgrade to Bitonio, even at his age.

LG signed
RT traded for

Still need:
LT
C
RG

RG Zinter

Johnson has played over 4,400 total career snaps. His positional breakdown is as follows:
Left Guard: 3,238 snaps. This has been his primary position since 2023.
Right Guard: 1,254 snaps. He played 100% of these snaps during his rookie season in 2022.
Center: Limited snaps. While he took reps at center during the 2025 preseason (logging 12 snaps in one game) and training camp, he has not held the position for a full regular season.

I suppose the team might think he could be their RG, but I'm guessing the decision to sign him stems from his time at LG.

If so, I think it is a good indication on Bitonio's retirement decision.

j/c:

Looking at a Chargers' message board, they don't seem too sad to see Zion leaving. They were seemingly more interested in getting a comp pick as he is a former first rounder.

Well according to PFF he was their 54th ranked OG last year, for comparison Bitonio was ranked 21st and Teller 39th. Best I can say is that he's young and he's a body, hopefully our new Oline Coach and help him reach his potential.

Not terribly surprised. The Chargers OL was atrocious last year. I know they had a lot of injuries but that was a mess of an OL protecting Herbert.

It’s another overpay, but that’s what happens in FA.

Seems like a lot of money for mediocrity. But as I said in a former post, THIS is the year to get paid if you're an O-lineman. 2/3rds of the league needs and there isn't enough quality out there in FA or the draft. He's entering his prime so maybe this pans out.

Scratch my head on this one. He'll fit right in with the O-line from last season. Terrible

Listened to Baskin and Phelps. They were saying that Zion played RG as a rookie and played really well but then got moved to LG and was just so-so.
Wonder what our plans are for him

Zion Johnson to Browns: D+

Three years, $49.5 million

Pete Prisco top 100 free agents rank: 68

This is a lot of money for a player who, at best, has just been OK. Last year, Zion Johnson ranked 54th out of 79 PFF-graded offensive linemen. He gave up five sacks and was "beaten" 22 times, both near the top among guards. The offensive line was a disaster for the Chargers, and now the Browns -- who are replacing their entire offensive line -- are spending significant money on one of its members. There were better options available for less money.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2026-nfl-free-agency-grades-raiders-tyler-linderbaum/

I guess he is a great signing after all.

That is usually what happens when a 1st round pick doesn't live up to the expectations. That doesn't mean he isn't a good player. On the home front, Gerrard Warren would be a good example.

Sometimes a guy isn't a scheme fit, and sometimes a guy plays on the side that isn't comfortable for him. Sometimes an OL just doesn't fit in the mix of the overall OL. Someone mentioned Teller as an example. On defense, Devin Bush is a great example. I would add Tyson Campbell as another example. For whatever reason, things just go wrong for a guy in one particular place.

To add:

Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $49,500,000

Average Salary:
$16,500,000

Cap hit in 2026: 5,225,000

POTENTIAL OUT in 2028, 2 YR, $33,000,000; $10,200,000 DEAD CAP

Very manageable if he flops.

Agreed

It is a solid signing

As I posted earlier a solid signing. It may not be flashy but it’s a building block for the OL. If we put him at RG it could really work out.

ESPN, in their winners and losers of FA article had very withering things to say about Zion Johnson and the Browns' willingness to pay him what we're paying him. We were in the losers column. They consider him a very below average guard who the Chargers let go even though they need a guard and they had his 5th year option available. Hopefully we pick up a few in the draft that give him some competition.

That is ok with me.

The film breakdown (posted a few days ago) done by Jake Burns actually had me excited of what he can do.

He has some quickness and good feet.

A few things that drove me crazy watching our former line this past season that I posted in the post game threads:

- our guards (example: going left to right/right to left) and not sealing off the second level LBs. Our guards weren't quick enough
- guards not being able to seal off DL when the G had to beat the DL to a spot while the DL had a shading advantage
- picking up stunts, we had to be one of the worst teams in the league
- guards pulling, it was rough to watch as they were too slow
- watching our OL use their first punch, it gets knocked away by the DL and our OL can't recover


What I've seen from Johnson:

- quickness to get out in front when pulling
- being able to seal off a DL, when the DL was lined up with an advantage
- he uses his right arm as his main punch, I've seen plays of him having it knocked away and uses good form to keep the DL in front of him
- He is a smaller G at 6'3. Some of the best DTs have bull rushed him (Dexter Lawrence/Chris Jones) and have knocked him up and off balance, however he did a great job of recovering his stance and slowing the defender and holding him in front of him
- I didn't watch every game, but I didn't ever see him pushed back into the QB as I have seen Teller do those numerous times.
- he was pretty good regarding stunts, however there were a couple breakdowns where he missed a few.

I think he has a lot of good things about him. He should be a big piece to our running game regarding pulling. He's in his prime years, so he has room to improve on things and hopefully having better lineman around him will also help. That Chargers line was so ugly to watch in the film

What is your take on his power for short yardage blocking? Can he win at goal line & 4th and short. We were too slow too often and didn't seal off well regularly. He may need some chip help. I am encouraged about quick feet! Our OL had some absolute sleds. This sounds promising. Good post! Thanx.