The Cleveland Browns management did not make just a few tweaks to their offense. They rebuilt it. To establish a winning primary, they spent a fortune this season on Zion Johnson, putting a lot of faith in him. One expert, however, is not impressed by their efforts. 

“Among the Browns’ free-agent additions for their offensive line, Zion Johnson is the most head-scratching acquisition,” Bleacher Report wrote on July 3. “As the fifth-highest-paid guard in cash, he’s an underwhelming signing. “

The Browns signed the former Los Angeles Chargers guard for three years with a $49.5 million deal. He came out of free agency with a guaranteed paycheck of $32.39 million, but the ranking suggests this was a poor financial decision on their part.

Johnson struggled in his four seasons with the Chargers. At both guard positions, left and right, he did not yield great results. In 2025, Johnson allowed three sacks with 663 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. 

Last season was a career low in penalties, with three called on him. According to an X post by ESPN reporter Daniel Oyefusi, quarterback Justin Herbert suffered significantly. 

“Struggled in pass blocking, often looking lost on defensive line stunts,” the March 10 post read. “He ranked as the fifth-worst guard in pass block win rate (87.4%) and played a role in quarterback Justin Herbert being the league’s most pressured and hit quarterback.” 

Despite the concerning aspects of his performance, there were some highlights too. Johnson was the most durable player of the Chargers last season. He played in 100 percent of the team’s games except in Week 18 when most starters were benched. 

He finished second among guards in run block rate with 79.3 percent. These stats are not enough to justify his paycheck. The Browns need a reliable guard, not a “reclamation project” as described by Heavy Sports. 

Johnson has to step up now more than ever, as he has to fill Joel Bitonio’s shoes. The franchise’s beloved guard retired as a career Browns player. In his 12 seasons with the team, Bitonio “set the standards for on-field excellence, professionalism and loyalty,” as general manager Andrew Berry said. 

He went to the Pro Bowl seven times and All-Pro twice. With him on the team, the Browns’ poor offense had some plus points. This season is a test for the unit as the report features another highly paid player who seems unjust to many.

Deshaun Watson named as the most overpaid quarterback in the NFL

The ranking of the most overpaid players in the league started with Deshaun Watson at the top of the list. The 30-year-old quarterback is returning to the field in his last season with the Browns after four underwhelming seasons.

“Among the top-10 highest-paid quarterbacks in cash, Watson could open the 2026 season as a backup behind Sanders, who fell to the fifth round in the 2025 draft,” the report said about his $46 million salary in 2026. “Nonetheless, he’s unlikely to justify his 2026 salary even if he does start this year.”

The Browns traded him from the Houston Texans in 2022 for five years with $230 million guaranteed. He has missed 30 games since and played in only 19 in the last four years. Whether the Browns' offense improves to justify their paycheck remains to be seen.

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar