Packers should consider making a trade offer for Duke Johnson
With the Cleveland Browns signing running back Kareem Hunt, the Green Bay Packers should make a trade offer for Duke Johnson.
On Monday the Cleveland Browns announced they had signed running back Kareem Hunt. With second-round pick Nick Chubb on the roster, who rushed for 996 yards and eight touchdowns in his rookie year, one has to wonder what this means for Duke Johnson.
That’s where the Green Bay Packers should come in.
The Packers need to add some depth at running back this offseason, and bringing in a pass-catching back would make a lot of sense to complement Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams.
In four years with the Browns, Johnson has more receiving yards (2,170) than rushing (1,286). In 2017 he finished with 1,041 all-purpose yards and seven total touchdowns.
Johnson won’t be the featured back who will carry the football 20 times a game, but that’s not what the Packers need. They need a player who can complement the running backs on the roster with the potential to make big plays. Johnson would be perfect in that role.
Shortly after Matt LaFleur was hired as head coach, Evan “Tex” Western of Acme Packing Company wrote a great article on why LaFleur’s history shows the Packers running backs could take on a bigger role as pass catchers in his offense.
That’s exciting, but the Packers don’t yet have a great receiving back on the roster. Both Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones are more than capable of catching passes — Jamaal Williams has 472 receiving yards and two touchdowns in two seasons, Aaron Jones has 228 yards and one touchdown.
With more targets there’s no reason why both Williams and Jones can’t become regular contributors as receivers, but Johnson could be a real difference maker.
Right now, it’s impossible to know if the Browns would even entertain the idea of trading away Johnson. But considering they used a second-round pick on Chubb last offseason, who almost hit 1,000 yards as a rookie, and have now signed Hunt, it’s possible they would consider offers.
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One thing that may go against a potential trade is Ian Rapoport of NFL Network’s report that Hunt will be suspended at the start of the 2019 season.
But if Johnson is available, he could be a great addition to the Packers offense.