3 pre-draft NFL trades that make too much sense
By Matt Conner
Trade: Duke Johnson to the Philadelphia Eagles
The Cleveland Browns have the NFL’s most obvious trading block. John Dorsey doesn’t seem remotely concerned about letting players know they will not be a part of the team’s long-term plans, as both Duke Johnson and the aforementioned Ogbah both refused to show up for recent workouts because they knew they were on the outs.
Johnson reportedly won’t be as easy for a team to pry away from the Browns as Ogbah, as Tom Pelissero notes it will take “something significant.” These sorts of general leaks are typically products of a front office, however, and the Browns have made it clear that Johnson has been available ever since Kareem Hunt was given permission to play the second half of the 2019 season.
For a team like the Eagles, it’s imperative to replace the offensive wrinkle that a healthy Darren Sproles provided. That’s what Johnson brings. He’s an elusive runner who has surprising balance and excels as a pass catcher who can create mismatches for a creative offense—even lining up wide or serving as an option out of the backfield. His presence alone would force defenders to respect the myriad of ways he can be utilized.
When Freddie Kitchens took over in Cleveland from Todd Haley in Week 9, Johnson had a breakout game and caught all nine targets thrown his way to lead the team with 78 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. It was a reminder even to his own team that he’s capable of being the 21st century version of an NFL lead back.
The Eagles have already made a trade for a running back within the last few days, so it might be silly to think of making a similar deal. However, Johnson is signed through 2021 and provides a missing dimension for this offense. If Sproles was healthy, this would be an easy pass, but for a likely mid-round pick (fourth or fifth round?), Johnson is a nice call.