Browns Sign RB Duke Johnson To Three-Year, $15.6M Extension

Update:

Ian Rapoport is now reporting that the Browns and RB Duke Johnson have officially reached an agreement on a three-year, $15.6 million extension with a $5 million signing bonus.

• Mike Garafolo adds that Johnson gets $7.7 million guaranteed and his $5 million average salary makes him a top-10 highest-paid running back.

Here are statements from Browns GM John Dorsey and Johnson:

“Duke Johnson is a good football player,” Dorsey said. “His hard work and commitment to the Browns organization is appreciated and we are excited to extend his contract and keep him in a Browns uniform for years to come. Duke is an excellent representative our organization. He leads by example and we look forward to him playing an important role with the Cleveland Browns moving forward.”

“I’m excited. It’s fun to see how this team is shaping out and I want to be a part of it,” Johnson said. “You can see it with the guys they brought in on offense like Tyrod (Taylor) and (Jarvis) Landry plus the guys we already had. I think bringing in coach (Todd) Haley adds another dimension to our offense and it gives coach (Hue) Jackson the chance to be the head coach. John Dorsey has been bringing in guys that can play, that can ball, and that gives us a chance. Now it’s about going out and doing it now.”

[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″]

Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport are reporting that the Browns and RB Duke Johnson are closing in a contract extension that should be done at some point Thursday.

A few weeks ago, Johnson mentioned that he and his agent were in contract talks with the Browns and optimistic that they would be able to get something done, so this doesn’t come as a big surprise.

“I’m very optimistic [we’ll get a deal done],” Johnson said, via Ohio.com. “I believe that not only the [coaching] staff but the front office wants me here. It’s just about both sides coming to an agreement.”

Johnson, 24, is a former third-round pick of the Browns back in 2015. He’s currently in the final year of his four-year, $3.105 million contract and stands to make a base salary of $742,000 for the 2018 season.

In 2017, Johnson appeared in all 16 games for the Browns and rushed for 348 yards on 82 carries (4.2 YPC) to go along with 74 receptions for 693 yards receiving and seven total touchdowns. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 16 running back out of 58 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding a new deal for Johnson as the news is available.