Can Newly Re-Signed Danny Johnson Help Washington Even More?

ASHBURN, Va. -- Danny Johnson is returning to the Washington Football Team on a one-year deal after he was not tendered as a restricted free agent but the two sides worked together, as expected.

The deal was first reported by John Keim of ESPN and is finalized as of today.

OK, so now it's done: A one-year deal for CB Danny Johnson with Washington, per sources.
— John Keim (@john_keim) March 18, 2021

Next step: Can Johnson help the WFT even more in 2021?

Johnson is an extra cornerback for a team that lost Ronald Darby but then gained William Jackson III. More importantly, Johnson has served as Washington's primary kick returner.

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Johnson had 26 kickoff returns for 573 yards, a 22.0 average with a long of 46 yards in 2020.

The job doesn't hold the same importance that it used to, but a good returner can still help a mediocre offense or one that is sluggish and looking for a spark.

Per ProFootballFocus.com (PFF), Johnson only played one defensive snap last year. ... so, as he's also only 5-9 and was undrafted, nobody should be thinking he's anything more than a primary special-teams contributor.

In that role, however, he also works on kickoff coverage, punt return block, punt coverage and occasionally on the field goal unit. And he could in 2021 be even more "primary.''

At different times (depending on the availability and usage of Deshazor Everett and Cam Sims), Johnson has been asked to do a little more on teams. Moving forward ... it'd be helpful if he became an even bigger helper as a "core'' special-teamer.

Washington has signed Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jackson III and Curtis Samuel. Not every signing must be that impactful. But WFT needs all hands on deck ... and maybe Danny Johnson doing just a bit more.