The Browns added a big piece to their defense when they signed the security John Johnson last week, and apparently faced stiff competition for their services.
Johnson turned down “significantly more money” from another team to sign with the Browns, his agents told Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. He was clearly very excited about the chance to play on this Browns team, which has come out of its best season in decades. It’s a sign of how much times have changed when players now earn less money to sign with the Browns as a free agency destination.
Imagine someone told you a few years ago. Johnson signed a three-year deal with $ 33.75 million with the Browns that included $ 24 million guaranteed and was arguably the highest security on the market after guys like Justin Simmons, Marcus Maye, i Marcus Williams they all got a franchise labeled by their respective teams.
Johnson’s $ 11.25 million AAV currently has him as the eighth highest paid security guard in the NFL. Shortly before signing with Cleveland, we heard the Lions, Eagles and Jaguars chasing him, so it is possible that it was one of those teams who offered him the biggest contract.
The Rams chose not to label him for financial reasons, but Johnson has been a very good player since he entered the league as a third-round pick in 2017. He played every moment for a Los Angeles defense that was the best in the league last season and won’t turn 26 until December. Johnson will start alongside the 2020 second-round election Grant Delpit or Ronnie Harrison in 2021.
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