Cleveland Browns free agent addition, Zion Johnson sees plenty of potential in his new team.
As free agent destinations go, the Cleveland Browns probably weren't at the top of the list for many of the league's top free agents.
For veteran guard Zion Johnson, though, who inked a three-year, $49.5 million deal with the Browns this week, there was one major factor that drew him to Cleveland.
"I think the pitch for me was clear. I mean, looking at the team from the outside in, for me, it looked like a team on the rise," said Johnson during his first press conference with the media on Friday. "There's a lot of pieces, the front office is very hellbent on improving the offensive line, improving the team as a whole ... The draw was clear for me. I could see the potential and the talent on this team."
It's no secret that the Browns are going through a bit of a roster rebuild at the moment, especially on the offensive side of the ball, where the o-line has been overhauled this week and help at wide receiver is still needed.
Still, from Johnson's perspective, this house has solid bones already.
"This team has a lot of good pieces, a lot of talented players," he said. "I just remember during the season I was watching one of the games the Browns were playing and I saw this young running back that just looked electric. And I thought, 'man if I have an opportunity to block for someone like that, the skies the limit.'"
That young running back was rookie Quinshon Judkins. And that dream is now his reality.
Johnson spent the first four years of his career playing guard for the Los Angeles Chargers. In his rookie season he was a right guard, but spent the last three at left guard.
He doesn't know just yet what his role will be for Cleveland, especially considering he's one of three versatile additions GM Andrew Berry made along the trenches this week. Former Green Bay Packers center and guard Elgton Jenkins also joined the team as a free agent, while Berry sent a fifth-round pick to the Houston Texans for right tackle Tytus Howard, as well.
Those new additions are part of the untapped potential Johnson sees in his new team too.
"Having the opportunity to come here and just seeing the pieces that we have, the other veterans that have come in on the offensive line as well, "he added. "I just feel really good about our room and I think that we have the potential to be something very special."
Another major factor for Johnson, his new o-line coach, George Warhop, who followed Todd Monken from Baltimore. His reputation proceeds him, and Johnson is excited to work with one of the best in the business.
"That was a huge draw for me as well," Johnson said. "I think he's one of those offensive line coaches who draws guys in, just with his level of coaching. He is one of the elite offensive line coaches and I think that's pretty well known.
"To have the opportunity to come in and have him coach me, to learn things from him but also bounce off of him as well. It'll be great for me and great for our room as well."
As the saying goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure. While some outsiders may see the Browns as a struggling football team that's won just eight games over the last two seasons, Johnson – for multiple reasons – found a perfect fit.
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