Chris Johnson to Jets: Latest Contract Details and Analysis

Updates from Monday, April 21

Rex Ryan spoke about Chris Johnson's usage with the New York Jets (via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News):

Original Text

Chris Johnson's stay on the free-agent market was short, as the former Tennessee Titans running back has agreed to terms with the New York Jets on a two-year contract.   

ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported the agreement on Wednesday:

The Jets' Twitter account confirmed the news and snapped a picture of their new running back signing his contract:

Pro Football Talk and Schefter had terms of the deal for Johnson:

Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean provides comments from Johnson on being a Jet, and how his time with the Titans ended:

Johnson later discussed his decision to come to New York (via Jane McManus of ESPN New York):

ESPN's Adam Schefter notes that Johnson's knee surgery was a concern for the Jets in signing the deal:

Johnson responded to that report on Thursday (via Kimberley A. Martin of Newsday):

he man formerly known as CJ2K for his 2,006 rushing yards in 2009 was released by the Titans after six years of service as the franchise sought to go a different direction at the position and get out from under his lofty contract.

For his part, Johnson took the news of his release in stride:

Johnson quickly finding a new home is not a shock, as the East Carolina product continues to be one of the NFL's most explosive and consistent runners. As Schefter details, he has the longest streak of 1,000-yard rushing seasons in the league:

Now 28 years of age, this type of production from Johnson is tough to ignore. He was a hot name on the trade market, but every team in the running elected to wait it out:

Johnson rushed for 1,077 yards and scored 10 times (six rushing, four receiving TDs) on a 3.9 yards-per-carry average last season—the lowest of his career—with the help of the No. 5 run-blocking line in the league, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

He has not been ranked higher than 42nd at the position the past four years in the PFF ratings. As Bleacher Report's Ty Schalter notes, Johnson's best fit is in a rotation:

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Johnson's best fit is as the head of a two- or three-back committee on a team that spreads the field wide and opens up plenty of seams for him in the front seven. With a semi-steady diet of touches, Johnson might be great just often enough to be good.

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Johnson will get that chance in his new environment. The Jets currently feature Chris Ivory, who is more of a bruising running back. Johnson's skill set should complement him well and enable New York to become a bit more versatile offensively.

He's still an effective back when asked to simply tote the ball and explode through the seams. Fully motivated, healthy and with new surroundings of his choosing, Johnson may turn out to be one of the NFL's better bounce-back stories in 2014.