Stevie Johnson's Place In A Weak 2008 NFL Draft Receiver Class
Think back to the 2008 NFL Draft. The Buffalo Bills had a moribund passing attack, had no legitimate No. 2 receiving option after a two-year experiment with Peerless Price fizzled out, and were looking for a red zone complement to speedy top receiver Lee Evans.
2008 was the wrong year for the Bills to be in the market for a receiver. Of the 37 wide receivers selected that season, only one - Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson - has averaged 1,000 receiving yards per season. The man closest to him in that department, Miami's Davone Bess, was an undrafted free agent.
Still, not all was lost, as this rather poor draft class has produced some late bloomers. One of them is Jordy Nelson, who is coming off a 15-score season with Green Bay. Another, as you're well aware by the headline, is the Bills' own Stevie Johnson, picked behind a whopping 30 receivers that April.
Johnson has only really been productive for two of his four professional seasons, and already ranks near the top of his draft class in receptions, yardage and touchdowns. Where exactly does he rank? Find out after the jump.
In terms of receptions, Johnson ranks fifth among his draft classmates, having hauled in 170 passes throughout his career. 158 of those receptions have come in the last two years. He falls behind Bess (260), Jackson (230), Eddie Royal (206) and Pierre Garcon (188) in career receptions. For now.
As far as yardage goes, Johnson is sixth, with 2,189 career receiving yards - 2,077 of which have come in the past two seasons. That ranks him behind Jackson (4,096), Bess (2,669), Nelson (2,531), Garcon (2,519) and Mario Manningham (2,315).
Johnson's 19 career touchdowns - 17 of which have come in 2010 and 2011 - rank him third on the list, where he trails only Jackson and Nelson, who have each recorded 21 touchdowns.
We keep mentioning the last two seasons because, again, Johnson wasn't a significant part of Buffalo's offense until last season, when Chan Gailey arrived as the new head coach. Let's stack Johnson's numbers up versus the six names mentioned above (Bess, Jackson, Royal, Garcon, Nelson and Manningham) to see how each has performed in the last two years:
| Name | Rd. | # | Rec. | Yds. | Avg. | TD |
| Stevie Johnson, BUF | 7 | 224 | 158 | 2077 | 13.1 | 17 |
| DeSean Jackson, PHI | 2 | 49 | 98 | 2017 | 20.6 | 10 |
| Jordy Nelson, GB | 2 | 36 | 113 | 1845 | 16.3 | 17 |
| Pierre Garcon, IND | 6 | 205 | 137 | 1731 | 12.6 | 12 |
| Mario Manningham, NYG | 3 | 95 | 99 | 1467 | 14.8 | 13 |
| Davone Bess, MIA | UDFA | 130 | 1357 | 10.4 | 8 | |
| Eddie Royal, DEN | 2 | 42 | 78 | 782 | 10.0 | 4 |
There you have it: Johnson is tops in receptions, yards and touchdowns (despite one heck of a surge from Nelson in that department) amongst the 2008 NFL Draft receiver class over the past two seasons. Between Johnson, Nelson and Jackson, the poor draft class has been able to salvage a trio of really good receivers; add in Garcon and Manningham, not to mention a large contingent of productive depth options that we won't name here, and the class isn't all that bad at all.
Thankfully, Buffalo emerged with Johnson, and has allowed Bills fans to forget about 2008 second-round pick James Hardy, who has 10 receptions for 96 yards on his career.
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Sign Him
If SJ doesn’t get signed there will be a mutiny.
I wrote this post in part because I found it interesting, but also in part because I had a friendly wager in place with a friend. The wager: the first comment on this thread would say “Sign Him.” I won the bet.
Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
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by Brian Galliford on Jan 5, 2012 2:13 PM EST up reply actions 8 recs
The only reason why they might avoid signing him would be if they think he’s becoming a discipline problem. I think he understood the benching for the TD celebration, so hopefully that has been nipped in the bud.
by SiriusRed on Jan 5, 2012 2:23 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
And the penalty was because of Johnson’s ignorance of the rules, not because of intent.
Frankly, I think his asking price is pretty quite reasonable.
How?
Can it be his ignorance of the rules if he did the exact same thing last season in Cincy and didn’t get a flag for it?? More like it was an official using his personal power to penalize Stevie at his descretion. Even Chan said it was questionable and would take it up with the league office.
Trample the weak, hurdle the dead!
by fansince83 on Jan 5, 2012 6:31 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I can't believe how many Bills fans don't have Stevie's back on this...
It is like they are expecting to lose him and want an excuse to hate on him and why it is OK for the Bills to let him go……sad indeed.
"Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there." - John Wooden
"Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances." - Sun Tzu
Fans are stupid.
1.) (From a QB’s perspective). At home games when their team’s QB is motioning with his hands to be quiet, they get louder most of the time.
2.) (From a Owner’s and GM’s perspective). Fans complain and whine that you don’t do your job right. And even if you do everything that they want and it doesn’t work out, they blame you. They are never satisfied. They always have a complaint. (Watch people criticize Ralph if they decide to give Freddy more money and he gets hurt. Seriously watch. It will happen almost instantly. Even if they were one of the people saying that he should get paid more.)
3.) They believe that they are mind readers and know everything that is happening. (Cough, cough. The people that thought that Kyle Williams was packing it in because he got another contract.)
4.) We think it is a good idea to tear down the goal posts even though it is dangerous and it is only week three.
5.) We make stupid bets with friends, etc (See recent ESPN commercial).
6.) We charge out onto the field and look like a fool.
i friggin HATEEE when the bills crowd gets super loud while the bills are on offense in the redzone. it drives me nuts
by Air Compressor on Jan 6, 2012 7:23 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah
He’s young and more importantly a gifted WR. He suffers from experience in the limelight I hope. We’d be remiss in not signing this kid and hope he gets a clue regarding refs/media.
GF Got Log Cabin And Dog. God I miss The Dog. Like I Miss Jim Kelly.
by buffalobacker on Jan 6, 2012 12:33 AM EST up reply actions
I recall
a certain Editor-in-chief once state, “If I were a betting man, and I’m not”….Oh those days of innocence.
"a play in which nothing happens, that yet keeps audiences glued to their seats". -Vivian Mercier - a description of Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot"
According to Beckett, Godot was a metaphor for the Buffalo Bills :-)
Yeah, I’m really cutting-edge these days.
Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
Follow @BrianGalliford
by Brian Galliford on Jan 5, 2012 2:28 PM EST up reply actions
"Sign Him." I won the bet.
Is there a contingency part of the bet where it is null and void if, say Mugginns misspelled his post and wrote “Sing Him” instead?
Da'Jon McKnight - WR (Minnesota) - 6'3'' 211Lbs. (5th Round)
1st Round Targets: Courtney Upshaw 3-4 OLB, Alshon Jeffery WR, David DeCastro OG, Justin Blackmon WR, Ryan Tannehill QB, Sam Montgomery 3-4 OLB
2nd Round Targets: Jared Crick (3-4DE & 4-3LDE), Melvin Ingram 3-4OLB, Kirk Cousins QB
by NordicBillsfan on Jan 5, 2012 3:31 PM EST up reply actions
All these comments....
and no one, until I, ask the question…. “What were the stakes of the wager Brian???”
Optimistic??? Of course I am!! I'm a Bills fan, and as of right now, we are undefeated on the regular season!!!
Things are truly looking up!!!
That was a horrible year for WRs.
.
When the job is finished no one remembers how long it took, just how well it was performed.
by Buffalo for Eternity on Jan 5, 2012 2:21 PM EST reply actions
Don’t forget who the Bills took in round two — James Hardy. On those rare occasions when he wasn’t injured, he looked like he didn’t know how to run a route.
by SiriusRed on Jan 5, 2012 2:26 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Remember when,
Hardy was going to learn alot from TO? haha
Screw you MSG, and screw you TWC!
I want my Sabres!
by bflo on Jan 5, 2012 2:30 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
remember when he scored a TD in his second game and everyone thought he was gonna be great?
Its fun to think quarterback, but i think the odds of nix taking one in the first are close to 0%.
i was at that game
Buffalo, that's where it's at baby. - Adam 'Pacman' Jones
To us winning is a tradition. We are victors and need not explain. You may hate us, but your girlfriends love us. - BC
One more than Shaq. - Kobe answering how it felt to win Championship number 5.
by silverstreak3k on Jan 5, 2012 4:38 PM EST up reply actions
Me too
SO HOT. They ran out of water at half… ugh
Also dumb tailgating
Screw you MSG, and screw you TWC!
I want my Sabres!
I remember saying, late in that season, that Stevie showed a lot of promise. I never understood what the Bills saw in Hardy other than height.
by SiriusRed on Jan 5, 2012 2:33 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Don’t forget who the Bills took in round two — James Hardy.
Never forgot, and Brian mentioned this in the last sentence of the article:
Thankfully, Buffalo emerged with Johnson, and has allowed Bills fans to forget about 2008 second-round pick James Hardy, who has 10 receptions for 96 yards on his career.
.
When the job is finished no one remembers how long it took, just how well it was performed.
by Buffalo for Eternity on Jan 5, 2012 2:44 PM EST up reply actions
I remember the Limas Sweed vs. Malcolm Kelly debate made my head hurt, I “knew” both would be good, just couldn’t figure out which one was going to The HOF.
by garcia76 on Jan 5, 2012 2:32 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Both are...
assuming that they purchase an admission ticket like anybody else.
by SiriusRed on Jan 5, 2012 2:35 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Devin Thomas too. He was big, fast and played for a cold weather college.
"You mean @TWHITNER. It’s how he prefers to be referenced." - Jon Harrington
and Bowman....
but his off field, and speed issues sank him fast…
Optimistic??? Of course I am!! I'm a Bills fan, and as of right now, we are undefeated on the regular season!!!
Things are truly looking up!!!
Yes!
Oh lord, there was almost a civil war here about who to take – Kelly or Sweed.
When we didn’t pick/missed out on them both there were some grumpy grumpies.
Seems like Johnson is a good guy – he just needs to mature. I was glad to see even after his benching in the NE game, he still was on the sideline encouraging his teammates, and not off sulking somewhere.
Funny with Hardy being taken in the 2nd round and washing out, and Johnson in the 7th becoming a star. Kind of similar to McCargo being taken in the 1st, and the same year getting Kyle Williams in the 4th – or Mike Williams in the 1st and Jason Peters as a free agent signing.
He seems more like a kid having fun than a diva. He just needs to stop going overboard with the TD celebrations. Other than that, he injects such much-needed personality into what would otherwise be a very dull team.
by SiriusRed on Jan 5, 2012 2:56 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
He seems more like a kid having fun than a diva.
This is what I see, too.
by PineWoodsBillsFan on Jan 5, 2012 3:24 PM EST up reply actions
and it means
that he might grow up.
no one ever expected TO to grow up out of being TO, but it seems rather feasible that Stevie could grow up a bit.
how about we do it every year?
a first round prospect followed by a developemental guy in the same position… seems to be working..
Working for mediocrity, sure.
"Go check on the ribs!"
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jan 5, 2012 4:20 PM EST up reply actions
If the Bills could show up for the first few rounds of the draft, they might just learn how to build a football team.
"Go check on the ribs!"
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jan 5, 2012 4:19 PM EST up reply actions
Almighty bills keep SJ13
Because if you don’t a lot of die hard bills fans who want nothing more but to win will question your organization’s effectiveness to want the same thing
by #1billsfan on Jan 5, 2012 2:43 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Take away his drop against the Steelers and the one this year against...Cincy?
and his two penalties,
he has been top level.
Signing Fred and Stevie to new contracts is pivotal to this team’s progress. They are leaders and Stevie is the leader and face of a young talented group that we want to maintain and add to.
They say the Kelsay signing was doe to his play and presence in the locker room, Signing Fred is the same thing for the offense.
"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-
He might have had the 2 best games of anyone against Revis this season
The drops hurt, and the penalties don’t help (he has to get it in line, but I also think it’s overstated a bit- didn’t he just have 2 excessive celebration penalties this year, and the second was for something he didn’t get flagged for last year against the Bungles?), but the guy, if not elite or top level already, is so close he should get there next season.
by the landriest on Jan 5, 2012 2:50 PM EST up reply actions
he is close fore sure
he needs to decide if he wants to get there. He has the ability, just not the attitude
"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-
yeah, i think your right
we never had a shot at the end against Cincy
"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-
I think this info helps us realize that Stevie is a "#1". He may not have good speed, but he makes catches and TD's at an almost elite rate.
I feel like my head will explode when I hear people argue that he’s not a “#1” WR because he can’t break a 70yd TD.
He’s proven he can beat elite defenders when they are game planning for him. To me, that’s all I need to see to know he can be a go to guy. He still has parts of he needs to work on to be considered elite, but his skill set gets the job done as is.
"I got no problem with 7-9 coming off of 4-12 as long as I don't buy a couch there, you got to keep moving" - Mike Schoop
I often feel he’s not a #1 WR because he disappears for long stretches. I’m beginning to wonder if that’s more to do with the QB situation than anything.
Still, I want him putting up at least 80 yards and a score every week before I can say he’s a dominant sound #1 WR prospect.
But he needs to be paid, and soon.
"Go check on the ribs!"
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jan 5, 2012 4:22 PM EST up reply actions
He doesn’t disappear for that long. It’s more on the QB than anything, and as the post below me says, he doesn’t drop them often, but due to the timing, us fans remember them more.
He made Revis look pretty bad this year, and that reason alone should prompt them to resign him. I remember seeing him play against the Browns on the MNF game in Buffalo back in ’08 and saying that he looked better at what he did than Hardy. Glad to see him get a chance to prove it.
Stevie and Freddy are BY FAR my two favorite players of this generation. They add such character to this squad , and they produce on the field, AND their teammates look up to them. If the future has both of them in it, the future is bright.
Slug free since '10-'11
Fitz's Beard has superpowers in it
by dEnnistheMenace88 on Jan 5, 2012 4:27 PM EST up reply actions
I do think they need to figure out ways to have him stretch the field. He’s not slow. He IS an NFL player, afterall.
He ran a 4.58 at the NFL combine and a 4.46 at his pro day workout.
And according to this site:
http://40-yard-dash-times.com/buffalo-bills-wr.html
He’s nearly the same speed down the field as Donald Jones, whom I cannot figure out why Gailey loves so much.
"Go check on the ribs!"
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jan 5, 2012 4:34 PM EST up reply actions
Fitz what? Why Gailey loves him so much?
"Go check on the ribs!"
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jan 5, 2012 5:00 PM EST up reply actions
But how many “dominant sound #1 WRs” are there? 5? Just about every receiver is going to have a handful of games with less than 80 yards. In fact, this year, only 5 WRs averaged more than 80 yards/game (and two TEs).
1004 yards for Johnson this year was good for 19th among receivers; that’s about where I’d slot him.
He's not far off from that pace though.
In basically 15 games, since he sat most of last due to his own antics, he still managed to come in #19 in receiving yards. That’s not factoring in the couple games this year where Fitz couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn and was abysmal.
I don’t think Stevie will ever be a top 5 WR and truly elite, but the fact that he could walk onto the field for almost half the teams in the league and be their top target should tell us that him being our top target is just fine.
Basically, he’s not a player that needs to be upgraded IMO. He can be a top target on a playoff team, so we need to keep him around. If we find better, great, but let’s not start searching again if we don’t have to.
"I got no problem with 7-9 coming off of 4-12 as long as I don't buy a couch there, you got to keep moving" - Mike Schoop
FYI, I saw somewhere, sorry no link, Stevie was not in the top 32 WR’s in drops. His drops are big ones though, makes you hope he isn’t thinking about his celebration before he catches the damn ball.
He dropped 3 passes this year. Many receivers dropped more than that in single games.
"Go check on the ribs!"
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jan 5, 2012 4:22 PM EST up reply actions
dunno if i buy that
"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-
by billsoferie on Jan 5, 2012 8:19 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I'd question.....
He dropped 3 passes this year
that stat too….. I remember one game alone, seeing 3 drops…
Optimistic??? Of course I am!! I'm a Bills fan, and as of right now, we are undefeated on the regular season!!!
Things are truly looking up!!!
drops tend to be an ambiguous stat. what actually constitutes a drop isnt clearly defined by the nfl so its a stat that tends to not be accurate
by Air Compressor on Jan 6, 2012 7:34 AM EST up reply actions
Considering wr breeds more divas then any other positions I don’t think Johnson’s a major discipline worry. The occasional excessive td celebration at least means we’re scoring Tds. The front office wants fitzpatrick to be the man they need to surround him with the talent to succeed starting with his best repore receiver.
Goin off the rails on the "missin' for griffin" train
by J. Mackin on Jan 5, 2012 3:09 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Just needs to be creative but fall within the confines of the No Fun Rules
"That's not how I do it. But, hey, everyone is different , that's why Baskin-Robbins got 31flavors" - Chan Gailey
by Buffalo Stro on Jan 5, 2012 3:20 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
You seem to be making the case that Johnson is well worth the$7.5 million he asked for and that Nix thought was $2 million too high.
I wasn't sure I was going to like the white helmets but seeing them in the practice footage, I've got to say that I love the look.
by Ron From NM on Jan 5, 2012 4:35 PM EST via mobile reply actions
i think he is def worth that money
im surprised so many on here are not.
Buffalo, that's where it's at baby. - Adam 'Pacman' Jones
To us winning is a tradition. We are victors and need not explain. You may hate us, but your girlfriends love us. - BC
One more than Shaq. - Kobe answering how it felt to win Championship number 5.
by silverstreak3k on Jan 5, 2012 4:36 PM EST up reply actions
we have to keep someone!
Especially cause I saw more than 200 #13 jerseys at the Bills game in SD.
by SpiderWeb Sleeves on Jan 5, 2012 4:38 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
if they sign stevie long term
ill get one. my fav no is 13, so it will work out nicely.
Buffalo, that's where it's at baby. - Adam 'Pacman' Jones
To us winning is a tradition. We are victors and need not explain. You may hate us, but your girlfriends love us. - BC
One more than Shaq. - Kobe answering how it felt to win Championship number 5.
by silverstreak3k on Jan 5, 2012 7:33 PM EST up reply actions
$$$$$
Who else could they sign for that price who is that productive? I hope they pull the trigger bit this is the most frustrating franchise in all of pro sports.
by itwasaforwardpass on Jan 5, 2012 8:20 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
wait.... stop.... get back.....
NO ONE that plays A GAME for a living, is actually worth the kind of money we tend to throw their way….
I’m darn good at the games of Chess and Life…. Wanna sign me up??? It’ll cost ya!!!!
Joking aside…. Soon, I’m sure we’ll have a thread about a rise in ticket prices or NFL merchandise… Will we blame Ralph??? Or will we remember we all said, “pay the man!!!!”
Optimistic??? Of course I am!! I'm a Bills fan, and as of right now, we are undefeated on the regular season!!!
Things are truly looking up!!!
they can raise prices
only if they spend the money to keep good players which leads to more wins…haha
you are right “worth” is relative, but in this business for a guy like stevie, its pretty worth it.
Buffalo, that's where it's at baby. - Adam 'Pacman' Jones
To us winning is a tradition. We are victors and need not explain. You may hate us, but your girlfriends love us. - BC
One more than Shaq. - Kobe answering how it felt to win Championship number 5.
by silverstreak3k on Jan 5, 2012 8:56 PM EST up reply actions
your just mad because of
MSU, haha. too soon?
Buffalo, that's where it's at baby. - Adam 'Pacman' Jones
To us winning is a tradition. We are victors and need not explain. You may hate us, but your girlfriends love us. - BC
One more than Shaq. - Kobe answering how it felt to win Championship number 5.
by silverstreak3k on Jan 5, 2012 8:57 PM EST up reply actions
Grrrrrrrrrr
I was working that day, and had the TV in the break room on and kept running in to check…. Went to a meeting when the Dawgs had the ball, winning, with 3 minutes left…..
Wasn’t till on my way home I heard the HORROR of it all!!!!!
But….. wait till next year….
:-)
Optimistic??? Of course I am!! I'm a Bills fan, and as of right now, we are undefeated on the regular season!!!
Things are truly looking up!!!
Dawgs
Hate to say this as a Gator fan but the Dawgs have the pieces in place to challenge for the SEC title.Gators are 2 recruiting classes away from being competitive again….
"I wouldn't ever set out to hurt anyone deliberately unless it was important -- like a league game."
Dick Butkus
If I were making that case, I would explicitly say that.
Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
Follow @BrianGalliford
by Brian Galliford on Jan 6, 2012 8:56 AM EST up reply actions
Wow! That kinda blew my mind.
Awesome analysis. Never even thought of it.
You da man Brian!
As usual.
Rec’d.
"My new cat just farted on my lap. Smells like Bills football." BG.
by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Jan 5, 2012 7:06 PM EST reply actions
SIGN HIM YESTERDAY BUDDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"My new cat just farted on my lap. Smells like Bills football." BG.
by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Jan 5, 2012 7:07 PM EST up reply actions
What's the going rate?
Nix knows the stats, but whoever the top 5-10 receivers are over the past 2 years that have also been resigned in the past 2-3 years, the numbers have to be slightly better than that to adjust for salaries always going up. He’s absolutely VITAL to our WR corps next year and beyond and most importantly still plays very well when hurt. The other question is what playoff contender teams out there would go after him? The Jets? Stevie would probably relish the NY endorsement opportunities. The Bengals to complement Dalton and AJ Green? The Seahawks? There are probably at lest 3-4 competitors out there that Stevie could seriously consider switching too if the $$ was on par. We gotta make our best offer w/out throwing stupid $$ out there. I think it’s going to take about what it seems he’s asking for 7-8 mil/year over at least 4 years w/ at least 15 mil in a comb of signing bonus and roster guarantees.
by AlwaysaBillinPhilly on Jan 6, 2012 1:25 PM EST reply actions
Just to clarify...
I’m talking WRs 5 through 10, not in the top 5. He’s not a top 5 guy but I think he is a 5-10 type of guy. Welker is also a UFA this year I believe. Will be very interesting to see what he signs for, albeit it he’s probably only got 2-3 more good years left w/ his age and the amount of catches and hits he takes.
by AlwaysaBillinPhilly on Jan 6, 2012 1:38 PM EST reply actions

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