Grading the Duke Johnson trade for Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans
The Cleveland Browns finally found a suitor, trading running back Duke Johnson to the Houston Texans. Grading the deal for both teams.
Duke Johnson being traded has felt inevitable for quite some time. The running back expressed his desire to be traded by the Cleveland Browns early in the offseason and, with a crowded running back room, the Browns always seemed likely to oblige him if the right deal emerged. On Thursday, that trade indeed came about as the Houston Texans came calling.
As first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Cleveland is trading Johnson to Houston ahead of each team’s first preseason game. In return, the Texans are sending the Browns a conditional fourth-round pick that has the potential to become a third-round selection for the 2020 NFL Draft.
This move for Houston comes after they released running back D’Onta Foreman, putting them in dire need for quality depth at running back heading into the 2019 season. Meanwhile, the Browns end a months-long saga regarding Johnson.
But how did the final trade ultimately play out for both teams? Let’s look again at the deal and then hand out a grade to both the Browns and Texans for what they accomplished with the move.
Houston Texans Grade
After releasing Foreman, the worst-kept secret in the NFL was that Houston needed a running back. Behind veteran Lamar Miller, the depth chart for the Texans at the position was a who’s-who of guys that you’ve never heard of or that haven’t played a meaningful NFL snap. Thus, they needed to find a way to get a guy, and they did with Duke Johnson.
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While the Texans could’ve waited until cut day to sign a player like Johnson or another guy that would be waived, being aggressive in getting their man was the right play here. Trying to sign a free agent or make a waiver claim carries an inherent risk as Houston doesn’t have total control in the situation. With a trade, however, they can give up modest compensation and get the player they want.
The only minor knock on this trade is the question of why Johnson is the guy they want. Yes, he always flashed talent with Cleveland but never saw his role fully formed. But he feels like an odd complement to Miller, even if he is a better pass-catcher. There’s little power to either player’s game and, while that can be fine, it does cause some initial — albeit quite small — pause about the fit.
Grade: B+
Cleveland Browns Grade
In the case of the Browns, you’re talking about a team that traded a player that didn’t want to be in Cleveland. Furthermore, Freddie Kitchens’ group is also set up quite well at running back with or without Johnson on the roster, having Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt (after his eight-game suspension) and Dontrell Hilliard, who has been showing out in training camp.
Given all of this, Johnson was an expendable commodity for the Browns at this point in the saga. Thus, for Cleveland and general manager John Dorsey to be able to find a running back thirsty team like the Texans and pull off a trade for a mid-round draft pick is a definitive win for them. Johnson almost surely was heading for a roster cut so to turn that into a potential future asset is a win for the franchise.
Grade: A-
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In the end, this is rare NFL trade where both teams, for the most part, come out winners. That’s good news for both Texans and Browns fans. And it’s also good news for Duke Johnson as, hopefully, the running back can find a home where he’ll both be utilized more and be content.