Safety Johnson agrees to deal

Ex-Ram to reportedly get $24M in guarantees

The Browns struck early on March 15 by agreeing to a threeyear contract with John Johnson from the Rams, regarded as the best safety in the 2021 free agent class.

The deal was first reported by NFL Network. A league source confirmed the agreement. The Browns cannot confirm it because signings cannot be announced until 4:01 p.m. March 17.

Teams and agents were allowed to start negotiating contracts for players with expiring contracts at noon March 15 — two days before the official start of the league year, when the free agents technically do become free.

Director of football operations Andrew Berry wasted little time filling one of the Browns’ gaping needs as soon as the starting bell rang. The deal is for $33 million with $24 million guaranteed, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

Gregg Rosenthal of NFL Network ranked Johnson 23rd among all 2021 free agents. Johnson, 25, made 105 tackles for the Rams in 2020. The 6-foot, 220-pound 2017 third-round pick from Boston College started all 16 games last season, intercepted one pass and had eight pass break-ups.

The only free agent in the secondary to get a higher grade from Rosenthal was cornerback Shaquill Griffin. Rosenthal ranked Griffin 18th only because the cornerback field is sparse.

“After four admittedly streaky years in Seattle, Griffin is undeniably an above-average starting cornerback,” Rosenthal wrote in a lukewarm endorsement. “The thin market at the position could bump up his price tag.”

Grant Delpit, also a safety with the Browns, did not play a down last season because the 2020 second-round draft pick suffered a torn Achilles tendon in training camp. Delpit is progressing well in his rehab, Coach Kevin Stefanski said in a Zoom call earlier this month.

Now defensive coordinator Joe Woods can pair Delpit and Johnson in the secondary.

Karl Joseph started nine games at strong safety last season. Andrew Sendejo started 13 games at free safety. Both are free agents. Ronnie Harrison, with seven starts at strong safety in 2020, is under contract in 2021 for $2.1 million.

Rosenthal referred to Johnson as “the secret backend weapon in the Rams’ defense last year” in his free agent scouting report.

Three of the top pass rushers on Rosenthal’s list are still looking for new teams, but the supply is dwindling quickly.

Shaq Barrett is re-signing with Tampa Bay for four years and $72 million. Rosenthal ranked Barrett behind only eft tackle Trent Williams in the 2021 class of free agents.

Yannick Ngakoue, an edge rusher from the Ravens, agreed to a two-year, $26 million contract with the Raiders, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Rosenthal’s top three players after Williams and Barrett are all edge rushers — Bud Dupree, Carl Lawson and Trey Hendrickson from the Saints. Lawson has reportedly agreed to sign with the Jets, and Dupree is set to join the Titans. It would be no surprise if Hendrickson has a deal before sundown March 16. So the Browns might have to move quickly to find a defender to bookend Myles Garrett.

KYUSUNG GONG — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Safety John Johnson III, shown with the Rams during the 2020 season, agreed to a contract with the Browns on March 15.