Free agency is on everyone’s mind at the moment, and running back is not an area of need for the Washington Redskins. However, an interesting trade opportunity has presented itself recently, involving a once high-profile running back who could be on the move, and a team so desperate to rid of his bloated contract that they may offer a draft pick or two to whichever team is willing to take him off of their hands.
I’m talking about David Johnson and the Arizona Cardinals.
Those who hold memories of the 2016 NFL season are definitely listening now, while recent fantasy owners of Johnson might scoff a bit. After bursting onto the scene with 20 total touchdowns in his sophomore season, Johnson has struggled to live up to the high bar he set, totaling just 16 touchdowns in the three years since. An injury sidelined him in 2017, but the young and adept pass-catcher signed a three-year, $39 million contract with the Cardinals in 2018. Since then, he’s been relegated to a backup role in Arizona, and now the team is looking at the two years and more than $26 million left on his contract with disdain.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Cardinals owe so much guaranteed money to Johnson that they are unable to release him, but there is still a route for them to rid of his contract — via trade. It would take the Cardinals eating a bit of Johnson’s contract, or giving up a draft pick or two, simply in order to get their once-prized RB on a new team.
So could the Redskins take him off of their hands if they were to throw in a couple of mid-round picks? It’s possible.
This could be a clever way for the #Redskins to add more draft picks, if the Cardinals really want out of the David Johnson contract. Would the Cards go as far as offering a 2nd or 3rd rounder for the Skins to take on an $11m cap hit this year? https://t.co/4QfRtAA9wE
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) February 15, 2020
Like we mentioned earlier, the Redskins don’t have much of a need at the running back position, with Derrius Guice nearing full recovery from a knee injury, Adrian Peterson likely to have his contract option picked up, and rookie Bryce Love set to make his NFL debut in the near future. However, this seems like a low-risk move that could potentially be a difference-maker in Washington; the Redskins have the extra salary cap to make it work, and they could add to their draft capital while bringing a veteran playmaker into the building. You may claim that Johnson is past his prime, and that could be true, but the Cardinals system was never a perfect fit for his playstyle, and a new set of scenery may be just what Johnson needs to jump-start his career.
It’s also important to mention that Johnson’s bread-and-butter is acting as a pass-catching RB out of the backfield, and the Redskins are likely to watch Chris Thompson — who played a similar role in Washington — walk in free agency this year.
It may be a long shot, but it at least should be mentioned and considered. Johnson has the ability to slice and dice opposing defenses when healthy and playing to his strengths. The Redskins would have to give up a little bit of money in order to get the deal done, but in return, they might receive some highly-valuable draft capital and a former super-star in the backfield. It’s worth considering.
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