More David Johnson Chatter
February 6th, 2020
Expected release.
Joe has previously taken a few stabs to suggest Cardinals running back David Johnson will be on the Bucs roster soon.
There are several breadcrumbs along this path.
First, the absolute worst Bucs position group is running back. This team needs to take this position seriously. Joe has been of the mind the Bucs need to draft a running back no later than the second day of the draft, and sign a free agent.
Johnson would be that free agent.
Yeah, Johnson stunk last year and was benched. But remember, this Kliff Kingsbury Air Raid offense is very foreign to Johnson. Joe believes Johnson was benched as much for the offense being a bad fit as for Johnson, 28, possibly being over the hill.
In 2018, Johnson was solid for the worst team in the NFL. He ran for 940 yards and caught 50 passes for 446 yards receiving. He finished with 10 touchdowns.
Now Josh Weinfuss of BSPN types that Johnson’s days with the Cardinals are likely numbered.
The Cardinals will part ways with running back David Johnson, who was once considered the future face of the franchise.
He’s scheduled to earn $10.2 million in 2020, with the entire amount guaranteed on the third day of the league year. But Johnson’s production continued to dwindle in 2019. He ran for just 345 yards, caught 36 passes for 370 yards and was benched throughout the season in favor of Kenyan Drake. While it’s not a guarantee that the Cardinals will bring back Drake, Johnson probably will be a casualty of his production and contract going in opposite directions.
Why is Joe so confident Johnson will be with the Bucs? In his last productive year, take a guess who his offensive coordinator was? That would be current Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich.
Second, Arians loves his former players. First, he tried to bring Honey Badger to Tampa Bay but didn’t have enough Team Glazer loot. Additionally, Arians coaxed Andre Ellington, one of his former backs in Arizona, out of retirement last year but he proved to be toast.
Johnson was a breakout star for Arians in 2016, when he accounted for 2,118 yards of offense and 20 touchdowns.
Keep Ronald Jones, draft J.K. Dobbins or Jonathan Taylor, sign Johnson and now you are cooking with gas.
February 6th, 2020 at 8:14 am
I like it!
February 6th, 2020 at 8:23 am
If we are committed to the $10 mil…..no thanks…….I’m good with him for about $2 mil.
I agree with drafting a RB in rounds 3 or 4…..
February 6th, 2020 at 8:25 am
This is a 100 times more likely than a high draft pick on a running back. BA has said as much and people seem to be ignoring that he doesnt value that position so jk dobbins, Taylor and those highly rated wont be a buc unless they are there in the 3rd round. He’s not changing his philosophy and you have an entire year of proof. Where was david Johnson drafted oh what do you know 3rd round.
February 6th, 2020 at 8:26 am
Get one in the draft 3rd or 4th round just as good if not better for pocket change.
February 6th, 2020 at 8:27 am
If we can get him on the cheap great, no interest in him at anywhere near his current salary. There is probably a good reason Drake was getting playing time over Johnson, wheels are likely worn out. Remember when we paid Dougie based on past production??
February 6th, 2020 at 8:36 am
Kenyan Drake shined in that offense; kenyan drake was a running back dunderhead licht could have traded for last year and would have been an upgrade over the stiffs on the team now. So we are going to grab a RB in johnson that couldn’t beat out drake or dominate like drake did once he got there?
February 6th, 2020 at 8:43 am
I’m with TBBF on this one. Unless he comes cheap, it’s a pass for me too. Not because I think we are set at RB, but because I’d rather keep our entire D in place.
And from Joes previous article about Team Glazer wanting National Enquirer type fodder rather winning we will have to pay JW the money DJ would need to come here.
In BA I Trust!
February 6th, 2020 at 8:51 am
Bring him in Bucs, better than Peyton Barber sheesh
February 6th, 2020 at 8:52 am
Joe’s, I agree 100% with your last sentence, but I don’t have enough faith in Licht/Arians to attack the position like that. I hope I’m wrong.
February 6th, 2020 at 9:05 am
Until the run blocking improves………….
February 6th, 2020 at 9:12 am
Kenyon drake below average which is why he’s not with the team that drafted him.
Perfect example of people not knowing what they are talking about, Drake has been in the league since like 2016 and has yet to top 700 yards but ronald jones has in his second year. Fans can be impatient with a second round pick but teams cant think so shortsighted which is why Noah spence got more time than he deserved. Rojo will be fine if he can get his protection skills up, get johnson and a late round running back. D line, o line and quarterback positions are more pressing.
February 6th, 2020 at 9:27 am
tbbf
you keep trading talent for savings and you will obviously be celebrating more basement titles and having ZERO hope…. Other organizations competent enough to manage far more complex salary issues each and every year and are still are able to field a competitive product… How about cleaning the front office out and putting a competitive intelligent team together that can put a competitive team on the field consistently while managing the cap simultaneously. Bucs have a garbage roster and salary cap issues that is just laughable and more proof of what a minor league franchise we choose to love.
each and every year this organization sets new lows for ownership, front office, talent evaluation, coaching, and on-field aspects. There is not one single phase of the game this franchise is even average at…. so bad… raise your standards bucfan stop accepting failure and labeling mediocrity legendary
February 6th, 2020 at 9:47 am
let’s not leave out the fact the field at rayjay looks like a goat pasture I am assuming the loser glazers just let it go to hell so the nfl charity wing would ensure a new filed was in place fo the super bowl.
you people keep accepting failure after failure living in a failed past while making excuse after excuse for incompetent owners who are NOT even attempting to compete. they have trained low standard bucfan well in the art of living in the failed past and accepting failure
there is no excuse for the holes on this roster at RB, OLINE, DLINE and LB the secondary is young but not fixed by any means. nor is there any excuses for the salary cap issues given the on-field results. counting on knuckleheads part time players like jpp and overpaying for unproven talent will be the end of the bucs this season and once again jameis will be blamed….
parole jameis he has earned his release from this cirucs.
February 6th, 2020 at 9:48 am
It won’t matter with Winston throwing picks like candy at a Halloween parade.
February 6th, 2020 at 9:48 am
not the same player obviously…injuries have taken a toll
February 6th, 2020 at 10:01 am
agree we need to upgrade running back but regardless of whether we bring back our D-line, the bucs need to draft more lineman – defensive and offensive. it is a must.
February 6th, 2020 at 10:09 am
Come on guys, of course we won’t touch him for his current salary. He’ll be cut by the Cardinals and then we’ll make a deal on the cheap. If not he won’t be a Buc. Simple as that.
February 6th, 2020 at 11:02 am
Keep Ronald Jones, draft J.K. Dobbins or Jonathan Taylor, sign Johnson and now you are cooking with gas.
if this is the, “im entertained with 5k yards Joe” then this is the smartest thing you’ve said in 2020!!!!….lol….
GO BUCS!!!!!!
February 6th, 2020 at 11:34 am
No one bats an eye about upgrading the RB position which under performed yet people freak out when wanting to upgrade the QB position. Why?
February 6th, 2020 at 11:37 am
Steven007 Says:
February 6th, 2020 at 10:09 am
Come on guys, of course we won’t touch him for his current salary. He’ll be cut by the Cardinals and then we’ll make a deal on the cheap. If not he won’t be a Buc. Simple as that.
always going on the cheap with second choices is why this franchise has never won consistently…. from second option dungy to unqualified current backfield and all the failures in between…. going cheap and counting on other teams thrown out garbage has done nothing but give delusional optimists false hope and a repertoire of excuses second to none to justify failures.
February 6th, 2020 at 11:50 am
813
Drafting
-G/C Jonah Jackson
+ Signing
Potential Cap Casualties
-G Ramon Foster
-T Cameron Fleming
Wouldn’t hurt either.
It’s just not the depth at the running back position that needs to be upgraded.
February 6th, 2020 at 12:20 pm
If they can sign him for say 2 or 3 mil. Fine. Otherwise no thanks. Could get a if good or better RB in 3rd or 4thrd. Lot cheaper.
February 6th, 2020 at 2:37 pm
Rojo + 2nd/3rd rd RB pick + D.Johnson looks good on paper…But D.Johnson 2020 is not DJ 2016.
2019 DJ looked an awful lot like 2019 Barbour…So, I’m in the PASS group on DJ.
He will want more $ than he’s worth at this point.
I’m all for drafting top3-4 RB in this class…. but I also believe adding a UDFA to fill the #3 RB role makes a ton of sense. (To keep RB positional spending in check…No need to have more than $5-7M wrapped up in the hole unit!)
February 6th, 2020 at 3:43 pm
LUV
whatever you say bruh!!!!…..lol….
if you like em, i LUV em!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!
February 6th, 2020 at 6:02 pm
813
Lol
No doubt bredren
February 6th, 2020 at 7:18 pm
If you get Johnson, draft Patrick Taylor Jr 8n the 5th. Big, powerful, bruising RB out of Memphis.
February 6th, 2020 at 10:19 pm
Joe if the Bucs sign Johnson then we can kiss a running back drafted early good bye. We won’t see one drafted until rd 5 or 6. Bucs will keep Ronald Jones in his same role that he finished last season and Johnson would be in the Payton Barber role but seen as an upgrade. They invested a 2nd rd in Jones so if they add Johnson and draft a speed rookie late then the Bucs will think their problem is solved. Watch! I hope I’m wrong because Dobbins or Taylor would be awesome to see. This is the Bucs! Remember? The same team that Started the season with 4.6 40 Payton Barber as our starter. I don’t think the front office really thinks they need a great back to succeed. Jones probably will hit the 1k mark with more opportunities and with Johnson a shell of himself he will add another 350-500 on the ground and be our red zone back. The rookie will get a few screens here and there but will be a special teams gunner/ return man
February 6th, 2020 at 11:45 pm
I get what you are saying with “cooking with gas” line but you need to come up with another way of saying it. Not appealing gg
February 8th, 2020 at 8:55 am
Joe,
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/02/08/david-johnsons-contract-makes-it-very-hard-to-release-him/
Enough with the David Johnson nonsense.