The New York Jets added wide receiver, formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams, on a one-year deal early in free agency. Today, we take a closer look at what Johnson brings to the team.
At 26 years old, He stands at 6’1″ and weighs 206 pounds. He was selected in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Minnesota. Over his career, he has started in eight games, totaling 76 receptions for 828 yards and four touchdowns.
Background
A three-star recruit out of high school, Johnson played quarterback before transitioning to wide receiver at Minnesota.
He saw limited action as a freshman, starting one game and finishing with 14 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown. His role expanded significantly in 2017, where he notched 35 receptions for 677 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games.
Johnson broke out in 2018, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors after posting 78 catches, 1,169 yards, and 12 touchdowns. He returned for his senior season and improved further with 81 catches for 1,318 yards and 13 touchdowns, capping his college career with a standout performance in the Outback Bowl (12 catches, 204 yards, 2 TDs), once again making first-team all-conference.
Despite his impressive college production, Johnson wasn’t drafted until the fifth round by Tampa Bay in 2020. As a rookie, he caught a few touchdown passes and earned a Super Bowl ring but had only 12 receptions for 169 yards.
In 2021, Johnson started three games and recorded a career-high 36 catches for 360 yards. However, his career trajectory declined afterward—appearing in just three games and recording only two catches over the next two seasons. During that time, he was released by several teams, including the Bucs, Texans, Rams, and Raiders. He did end 2023 on the Rams’ practice squad.
Johnson had a resurgence in 2024, making the Rams’ active roster and playing in 15 games with two starts. He finished the season with 26 receptions for 291 yards and one touchdown, including a career-best 79-yard outing in an overtime win over Detroit, whose defensive coordinator was Aaron Glenn at the time.
The Jets picked Johnson up on a low-risk, one-year minimum salary contract early in free agency.