Cleveland Browns
Getty
Browns get criticized on signing of Zion Johnson
The Cleveland Browns made a splash by signing former Los Angeles Chargers guard Zion Johnson.
The NFL free agent tampering window opened, and the Browns agreed to a three-year, $49.5 million deal with Johnson. Johnson had mixed results last season with the Chargers, as he showed flashes of stellar play, but he also struggled at times.
After the deal had been agreed to, NFL analyst Daniel Popper of The Athletic gave the signing a Grade of C and said it’s a lot of money for an inconsistent player.
“Johnson had a robust market in free agency because of his age, athleticism and durability,” Popper wrote. “He has flaws as a player, most notably his awareness identifying stunts and blitzes in front of his face. But he is a well-above-average run blocker with scheme versatility, power and movement skills.
“From Week 13 to Week 17 last year, Johnson played the best football of his career. He sat out Week 18 because the Chargers had already clinched a playoff spot. In a playoff loss to the Patriots, he reverted to some of his poor habits, particularly in pass protection. This is a sizable deal for a solid but inconsistent player. Starting-caliber offensive linemen get overpaid in free agency.”
The Browns did have to overhaul their offensive line, and Johnson is projected to start at left guard. So, it does appear that Joel Bitonio likely won’t be back, as Johnson will come in and replace him. But he could also shift to the right side if Bitonio does return.
Johnson was selected 17th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft by Los Angeles, but the team opted not to pick up his fifth-year option.
Johnson Struggled As Pass Blocker
Although Cleveland gave Johnson a nice payday, there are some concerns about his play.
NFL analyst Kris Rhim of ESPN said a downside of Johnson’s play is his pass blocking, as he’s a stellar run blocker.
“[Johnson] struggled in pass blocking, often looking lost on defensive line stunts,” Rhim noted. “He ranked as the fifth-worst guard in pass block win rate (87.4%) and played a role in quarterback Justin Herbert being the league’s most pressured and hit quarterback.”
However, a plus of Johnson is his durability, as he played 100 percent of the Chargers’ snaps last season, except for Week 18 when Los Angeles rested starters.
Johnson also finished the season ranked second in run block win rate (79.3%) among guards. But, the price tag and his pass block could be a reason why Popper isn’t a fan of the Browns’ signing.
Browns Coach Hopeful Bitonio Returns
Although Cleveland signed Johnson, the team is still hopeful Bitonio will return.
Bitonio has thought about retirement, or could sign elsewhere to pursue a Super Bowl. Yet, new Browns head coach Todd Monken said he’s talked to Bitonio and wants him to return.
“He came up to the office a few weeks ago and we tried to talk him into it right then,” Monken said. “But he was not in that position yet to say he wanted to come back.
“I’m for really good football players and I’m for really good football players that are wired like Joel. There’s not many wired like Joel. What he says, how he carries himself, how he prepares. I mean, it’s unbelievable. He’s rare, 12 years and the pounding he’s taken and continued to play at such a high level.”
Bitonio has spent his entire career with the Browns and is a seven-time Pro Bowler.