Zion Johnson had the best year of his career while surrounded by a horrendous LA Chargers offensive line in 2025. It was by no means an exceptional season for the 2022 first-round pick, but it was still a noticeable leap from potential draft bust to serviceable starting guard.
With several questions on the offensive line, many assumed the Chargers would bring Johnson back as long as the price was fair — and it was. Johnson signed a three-year, $49.5 million contract with the Cleveland Browns, which was well under the $20 million estimates that proceeded free agency.
While Johnson may have signed for cheaper than initially thought, the move still isn't being received well by those in NFL circles. In fact, the Browns' deal for Johnson landed on NFL Trade Rumors' list of the six worst signings of free agency. Woof.
"The problem is Johnson hasn't been very good in the NFL. There's a reason the Chargers declined his fifth-year option and elected not to compete with his market. Last season, Johnson had a 56.5 grade in PFF's system, good for 54th among qualifying guards. In four years, his best grade was a 64.9 in 2024, and his grade last season was the worst of his career," Ethan Woodie writes.
"Now, the Browns absolutely had to improve along the offensive line. They are likely to return zero starters in 2026 — a wild and extremely rare phenomenon in the NFL. But spending that much on a guard who barely qualifies as "starting caliber" is not a smart investment. This contract is likely to age poorly and Cleveland is already dealing with bad, bloated contracts on their books, hampering their ability to operate in free agency."
Zion Johnson's track record on the Chargers is a bad look for the Browns
Everything Woodie writes in that excerpt is spot on, and highlights why this is such a risky signing for the Browns in the first place. Yes, Cleveland was tasked with an impossible task of replacing the entire offensive line in one offseason, but they may have done so with the wrong talent.
It's actually quite ironic because even though Johnson may end up being a bad signing for the Browns, he probably still would have been a good signing for the Chargers. The Chargers aren't rebuilding the entire offensive line, they just needed to rebuild the interior to support two All-Pro-caliber tackles on the outside.
In theory, re-signing Johnson could have been a key aspect in that rebuild. Tyler Biadasz would improve the center play and with an improved right guard, Johnson would have been the worst member of the offensive line.
Johnson being the worst of the starting five is actually a good place to be in. Him being a fundamental part of another team's complete rebuild is an example of him punching above his weight class.
Plus, the Chargers had the salary-cap space to spend for Johnson, whereas the Browns were a bit more limited. Signing Johnson wouldn't have pot-committed the Chargers in the same way it does the Browns.
But alas, the Browns made a signing that might not be the best use of their funds, while the Chargers are likely replacing Johnson with Cole Strange, who was worse than both Johnson and Mekhi Becton last season.
Somehow, some way, Johnson signing with the Browns may have made every part worse for wear.