Duke Johnson Jr. and fleece

With all the talk in Berea swirling around whether Duke Johnson Jr. would be a part of this season’s Browns even though he did not want to be, one thought came to mind.

If the Browns decided to deal the recalcitrant running back, who all but begged to be traded because he didn’t think he fit in, the best they could get out of it was maybe a fifth-round draft pick.

Johnson was not an every-down running back with the Browns. There are those who believe he was a much better receiver and thus was misused in the club’s offensive scheme.

The third-round pick in the 2015 National Football League college draft became a marginal player who could not fetch much in return if a swap involving draft selections was to be made.

And then along came the perfect team and the perfect scenario the morning of the club’s exhibition opener Thursday night in Cleveland.

It resulted in Cleveland General Manager John Dorsey shipping Johnson to the Houston Texans for a fourth-round pick next year that could improve to a third if Johnson hits certain statistical goals agreed to by both clubs.

In short, Dorsey basically fleeced the Texans, whose weakness at running back undoubtedly sparked the conversation that resulted in the deal. They had no one of value or experience outside of veteran Lamar Miller at the position.

Johnson’s unique qualities would be a perfect complement to a strong pass attack, featuring wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller IV and Keke Coutee, and give the Texans a dimension in that aspect of the offense they lacked last season.

Dorsey also took advantage of the fact the Texans do not have a general manager, having fired Brian Gaine. Dorsey negotiated with Texans head coach Bill O’Brien instead, convincing him Johnson was the missing piece in his offensive puzzle.

If O’Brien uses Johnson properly, the ex-Brown should have no trouble attaining the statistical goals barring injury or persistent misuse of his talents, paving the way to the third-round selection next year.

It is obvious Dorsey was also motivated to make the deal by the continued strong showing in training camp of second-year running back Dontrell Hilliard, who will fill in until Kareem Hunt is eligible to come off the suspended list and play the second half of the season.