There has been a lot of talk about the Cleveland Browns trading Duke Johnson after the team signed Kareem Hunt, but Freddie Kitchens isn't quite sure why that is.
At the NFL owners meeting, Kitchens' reiterated that Johnson is a valuable part of the team and he is going to have a role next year.
“I don't know why it's assumed that we're going to trade Duke Johnson,” Kitchens said via Cleveland.com. “I don't know why we would ever want to voluntarily give up a good football player. Duke Johnson is a good football player. Duke Johnson will have a role on our football team. All these guys that are here will have a role.
“I don't know when it just became a necessity to trade Duke Johnson because we signed Kareem Hunt. And I know I've heard that a lot.”
Johnson at one point looked to be the running back of the future for the Browns but he has seen his role decrease the last few years. Last year he rushed 40 times for 201 yards but failed to score a touchdown on the ground. Through the air, he was a bigger threat catching 47 passes for 429 yards and three touchdowns.
Even with Kitchens saying he is having a role, it is hard to imagine Johnson having much of a role once Hunt has served his suspension. The Browns will have Hunt, and Nick Chubb who had a strong rookie season that will be competing with Johnson for snaps behind Baker Mayfield.
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