Duke Johnson Reiterates Desire For Trade From Cleveland Browns

Fifth-year Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson isn't a star by any means, but he's a pretty good player who would make just about any team better. Johnson was rather ticked off this offseason when the Browns brought in free-agent running back Kareem Hunt. It didn't seem like Hunt was a need with the Browns having Nick Chubb and Johnson at tailback, but when you get can a former NFL rushing king for a song, you do it. Even with the off-field baggage that will see Hunt suspended the first eight games of 2019.

Johnson said he wanted to be traded after Hunt was brought aboard, and when Johnson showed up at mandatory minicamp this week he made it clear his mind hadn't changed. Last year, Johnson rushed 40 times for 201 yards and caught 47 passes for 429 yards and three scores. In 2017, he had a career-high 74 receptions for 693 yards and 1,041 yards total yards from scrimmage with seven scores. He clearly wasn't used as consistently last year and probably won't be in 2019, either, with Hunt now around.

The former Miami Hurricane clearly isn't a featured back, but Johnson's good out of the backfield as a receiver. Some team looking for a third-down back would be wise to call Browns GM John Dorsey (Falcons after losing Tevin Coleman?). Johnson had skipped all of the team's voluntary offseason program saying he felt "unwanted" but would have been fined up to $80,000 had he skipped this week's mandatory minicamp.

The Browns and new head coach Freddie Kitchens have made it pretty clear they have no intention of trading Johnson – remember, Hunt will miss half the season. Outside of Johnson, Cleveland has Dontrell Hilliard, D'Ernest Johnson and Trayone Gray as tailbacks on the roster and none have an NFL carry.  If Johnson becomes a distraction for this Super Bowl contender, he might have to go regardless of depth issues. He says he won't be one.

"You're either on this train or you're not, it's moving," QB Baker Mayfield said at minicamp about Johnson. "You can get out of the way or you can join us."

Cleveland is a 5-point favorite on the NFL odds Week 1 against the visiting Titans.