Washington Football Team re-signs CB Danny Johnson for one year

Three larger moves have accentuated the Washington Football Team’s offseason thus far, but the lesser heralded moves also have importance.

The Washington Football Team entered the 2021 free agency period needing more firepower on offense. They also needed to withstand turnover on defense and keep their unit strong for the coming season. So far, they’ve done a good job pursuing both goals.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, while not a long-term answer at quarterback, will provide a heightened baseline for the group in 2021. And Curtis Samuel, signed to a three-year deal last night, has explosive potential alongside Terry McLaurin, Antonio Gibson, and Logan Thomas.

On defense, the Washington Football Team initially encumbered a loss at cornerback, as Ronald Darby signed with the Denver Broncos, after he was expected to re-sign with Washington. Cornerback became a need for a brief time, but Washington managed to fill that gap by signing former Bengals standout William Jackson III.

The addition of Jackson presumably gives the Washington Football Team their complete starting cornerback trio for 2021 — Kendall Fuller, William Jackson III, and Jimmy Moreland in the slot. However, beyond those three, Washington needs more depth at the position, and their latest re-signing helps with that, while also providing special teams security.

According to ESPN’s John Keim, the Washington Football Team has re-signed cornerback Danny Johnson to a one-year deal. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but one can assume that Johnson was able to be re-signed for a relatively cheap price.

Johnson, 25, has been with the Washington Football Team since 2018. He impressed in offseason workouts as an undrafted free agent and managed to stick around as depth. Johnson maintained a role as a reserve through 2019, and in 2020, his ability as a return man helped him stick around through a regime change. He was one of the primary kick returners for Washington in 2020, and logged 573 kick return yards on 26 opportunities.

Johnson hasn’t been used as much on defense, since his rookie year, but with William Jackson III joining the fold, Johnson likely won’t have to. He has that experience in his back pocket, nonetheless, and that helps him provide extra value beyond his return utility. This is more of a roster maintenance move, but Johnson will provide cheap security for another season.