Duke Johnson to the Browns: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

The Cleveland Browns landed Terrance West (third round) and Isaiah Crowell (undrafted free agent) in their 2014 draft class but dipped right back in for another running back in the 2015 NFL draft with Duke Johnson.

It's a somewhat confusing pick since West and Crowell combined to receive 100 percent of the team's carries (excluding quarterback runs and wide receiver end-arounds) after the Browns parted ways with Ben Tate.

All signs pointed to the team sticking with West and Crowell while potentially adding another running back in the later rounds to compete with Shaun Draughn and Glenn Winston. 

So how does the team plan to feature Johnson?

As a pure running back, it's difficult to envision more than a small handful of carries per game for Johnson. West and Crowell are built like workhorses, and both are capable of handling even more than what the Browns put on their shoulders in 2014.

What Johnson does bring to the table is production in the passing game.

West and Crowell combined for just 20 receptions on 27 targets a season ago—18 fewer receptions than Johnson had at Miami in 2014.

He'll almost certainly come onto the field in obvious passing situations to run routes out of the backfield. 

It's worth noting, however, that Johnson has always struggled in pass protection. He primarily goes for the cut block—and whiffs far too often. 

If this is the only role the Browns envision for Johnson, it's a wasted pick. A third-down back just doesn't have enough value to warrant such a selection, especially for a team with multiple other holes that must be addressed. 

For this reason, I wonder if the Browns see a role for Johnson in the slot as well as the backfield. The Chiefs drafted Dexter McCluster for a similar role in 2010 and rotated him between the positions, based on the scenario, for a few seasons. Or, to put it into a Cleveland perspective, maybe Johnson could play the Eric Metcalf role as a running back/receiver/return specialist. 

"

New #Browns RB Duke Johnson said he thinks he'll be used in all different ways, including special teams.

— Nate Ulrich (@NateUlrichABJ) May 2, 2015"

Johnson did not return kicks in 2014, which made sense, as he was the Hurricanes' feature back and returning from an ankle injury that erased his entire 2013 season. But as a freshman in 2012, Johnson returned 27 kicks for an average of 33 yards. 

Travis Benjamin and Marlon Moore were the Browns' primary kick returners in 2014, but both will be fighting for their jobs among a crowded group of receivers due to the free-agent acquisitions of Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline. As a result, it may make more sense to optimize the roster by handing the kickoff duties to Johnson, who clearly has a role already locked up as the third-string running back.

Sticking with the theme of the draft, Ray Farmer once again takes a player with zero issues off the field. 

According to ESPN's scouting report, Johnson's family was briefly homeless when he was a child, and he lost his father from ALS in 2008. He's had a tough life and is motivated to provide for his family, which likely endeared him to Farmer, who is determined to erase the off-field mistakes within his locker room. 

Grade: C+

Ryan McCrystal is an NFL draft Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

Follow @Ryan_McCrystal