The Browns on Saturday made it official with the signing of CB Kevin Johnson, a versatile veteran who can help the secondary in a variety of ways.
Here are five things to know about the newest addition to Cleveland's cornerbacks room.
1. The Browns are Johnson's third team in as many seasons. The former first-round pick out of Wake Forest spent his first four seasons with Texans, who used the No. 16 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft on him. He appeared in 35 games over the four seasons with 18 starts. Ten of those starts came as a rookie, when Johnson posted career-bests in tackles (54), passes defensed (nine) and snagged his only interception. This past season with the Bills, Johnson appeared in all 16 games with one start.
2. Johnson was playing some of his best football early in the 2016 season before the first of a string of injuries kept him away from the field. A foot injury ended his 2016 season after just six games. A knee injury in 2017 limited him to 12 games and four starts. And in 2018, Johnson suffered a concussion Week 1 and never returned to the field. Last season in Buffalo, though, was Johnson's healthiest since his rookie year. He didn't miss a game. "I think I learned that I don't have any quit in me," told reporters in Buffalo last season. "I went through a lot of things, just adversity as far as dealing with injuries. Every time, I came back strong from it, got back to good form. Although I got hurt again after that, I still had my confidence that I had when I came into the NFL. I'm looking to build on that."
Check out photos of cornerback Kevin Johnson
Buffalo Bills cornerback Kevin Johnson (29) defends a pass to New York Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson (11) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Houston Texans defensive back Kevin Johnson (30) between plays during a regular season Week 17 NFL football game between the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday December 31, 2017 in Indianapolis. The Colts beat the Texans 22-13 (Matt Patterson via AP)
Buffalo Bills' Micah Hyde (23) and Kevin Johnson (29) tackle Cincinnati Bengals' Auden Tate during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Buffalo Bills' Kevin Johnson (29) lines up against the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Buffalo Bills cornerback Kevin Johnson (29) in coverage during in an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, in Houston. Houston won 22-19 in overtime. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Buffalo Bills cornerback Kevin Johnson (29) looks on prior to an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, in Houston. The Texans beat the Bills 22-19. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Miami Dolphins' Jerome Baker, left, and Buffalo Bills' Kevin Johnson, right, fight for position during a punt play in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Buffalo Bills cornerback Kevin Johnson (29) drops into coverage during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Saturday December 21, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots defeated the Bills 24-17. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
Buffalo Bills cornerback Kevin Johnson (36) defends during an NFL preseason football game against the Detroit Lions, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, in Detroit. The Bills defeated the Lions, 24-20. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Buffalo Bills cornerback Kevin Johnson drops into pass coverage during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
Houston Texans cornerback Kevin Johnson, left, and cornerback Johnathan Joseph celebrates after a tackle against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Buffalo Bills cornerback Kevin Johnson lines up for a play against the Miami Dolphins in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Houston Texans defensive back Kevin Johnson (30) during pre game warmups during a Week 1 NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016 in Houston. The Texans beat the Bears 23-14. (Matt Patterson via AP)
Buffalo Bills cornerback Kevin Johnson (36) runs drills during an NFL football team practice Tuesday, June 11, 2019, in Orchard Park N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
FILE - In this Sept. 9, 2018, file photo, Houston Texans cornerback Kevin Johnson (30) leaves the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, in Foxborough, Mass. A person with direct knowledge of discussions has confirmed to The Associated Press that the Buffalo Bills have agreed to sign free agent cornerback Kevin Johnson. The person spoke to The AP on Monday, March 11, 2019, on the condition of anonymity because the signing won't be official until the NFL's new year begins Wednesday. (AP Photo/Stew Milne, File)
Houston Texans defensive back Kevin Johnson (30) after practice at the Houston Texans training camp at the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia on August 11, 2017. (Matt Patterson via AP)
Houston Texans defensive back Kevin Johnson (30) pass defends against Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) during a regular season Week 11 NFL football game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Houston Texans, Sunday November 19, 2017 in Houston. The Texans beat the Cardinals 31-21 (Matt Patterson via AP)
Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker (82) drags Houston Texans cornerback Kevin Johnson (30) into the end zone as Walker scores a touchdown on a 24-yard pass in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn.(AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Houston Texans defensive back Kevin Johnson (30) looks to make a tackle on Tennessee Titans wide receiver Corey Davis (84) after a catch during a regular season Week 13 NFL football game between the Houston Texans and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday December 3, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans beat the Texans 24-13 (Matt Patterson via AP)
Houston Texans defensive back Kevin Johnson (30) defends against Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods (17) during a regular season Week 10 NFL football game between the Houston Texans and the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday November 12, 2017 in Los Angeles. The Rams beat the Texans 33-7 (Matt Patterson via AP)
Houston Texans cornerback Kevin Johnson (30) during an NFL football game between the Houston Texans against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017. (Tom Hauck via AP)
Houston Texans defensive back Kevin Johnson (30) during a regular season Week 17 NFL football game between the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday December 31, 2017 in Indianapolis. The Colts beat the Texans 22-13 (Matt Patterson via AP)
3. Johnson has primarily played as an outside cornerback throughout his career but he also has experience playing in the slot. That's an area the Browns could use some help after the offseason departures of Eric Murray and T.J. Carrie. According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson played 105 of his 348 snaps in the slot.
4. Johnson was a three-year starter at Wake Forest. He finished his career with 35 pass break-ups, a total that ranked fourth-most in school history. Though he picked off just one pass during his entire college career, Johnson was well-regarded for his ability to play blanket coverage on the opposition, garnering second-team All-ACC recognition as a junior and senior. He allowed just 24 completions throughout his entire senior season.
5. Johnson starred as a both a running back and defensive back at River Hill High School in Clarksdale, Maryland. He was teammates with Michael Campanaro, who similarly attended Wake Forest and made it to the NFL. During his senior season of high school, Johnson led his entire county with 1,220 yards on just 137 carries -- better than an average of 9 yards per touch. Johnson did this all while weighing 155 pounds. When he was a freshman, he weighed just 96 pounds.
