Browns trade Duke Johnson to Texans
The Cleveland Browns traded disgruntled running back Duke Johnson to the Houston Texans for an undisclosed draft pick in 2020, the team announced Thursday.
The compensation will begin as a fourth-round pick but conditions could escalate it to a third-round selection, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Johnson asked for a trade months ago after the Browns signed Kareem Hunt to join him and Nick Chubb in their backfield. Cleveland insisted throughout the offseason that Johnson would be a major part of its offense, especially with Hunt suspended for the first eight games of the season.
In Houston, Johnson figures to slide into the primary backup role behind Lamar Miller. The Texans recently cut 2017 third-round pick D'Onta Foreman, who appeared to be in line for that job.
Johnson has been one of the most reliable pass-catching running backs since entering the league as a third-round pick of the Browns out of Miami.
Duke Johnson's receiving stats
| Year | REC | YDS | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 61 | 534 | 2 |
| 2016 | 53 | 514 | 0 |
| 2017 | 74 | 693 | 3 |
| 2018 | 47 | 429 | 3 |
The 25-year-old is entering the first season of a three-year, $15.61-million contract, which he signed as an extension with the Browns in June 2018.
Cleveland, meanwhile, is now equipped with 10 picks in the 2020 draft.