Tag: tyler johnson bucs

Football Outsiders makes a bold prediction about Bucs WR Tyler Johnson

See what bold prediction Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders made about Bucs fifth-round pick Tyler Johnson.

Entering the 2020 NFL draft, it was clear the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ top priority was finding help up front for newly-signed quarterback Tom Brady. The soon-to-be 43-year-old was sacked just 27 times in New England last year with the Patriots, while the Bucs allowed former quarterback Jameis Winston to be sacked 47 times.

Ultimately, the Bucs got what they wanted in round one, which was one of the draft’s prized tackles (Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs at No. 13). The Bucs added a potential star defender in round two in Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. But, the young safety wasn’t the only Golden Gopher Tampa Bay picked up in the draft. They used their fifth-round pick to take Winfield’s Minnesota teammate, wide receiver Tyler Johnson.

While the Bucs have the luxury of sporting two of the league’s top receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, the end to the 2019 season proved the Bucs needed a reliable third option for Brady. Some view Johnson as a potential draft gem, and Aaron Schatz, editor of Football Outsiders, made this bold prediction about Johnson over at ESPN.com.

Per Schatz:

“Fifth-round pick Tyler Johnson will become Tom Brady’s new favorite slot receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He won’t put up the numbers of Julian Edelman and Wes Welker, not with all the competition for targets in Tampa Bay, but he’ll gain Brady’s trust. Johnson is a former high school quarterback who runs crisp routes with vision and toughness.”

It’s certainly a bold prediction, but not one that’s entirely unfounded. While Johnson may be just a rookie, tight end Rob Gronkowski (who the Bucs traded for to reunite with Brady) had a stellar game as a rookie that established him as Brady’s guy. Johnson definitely has the talent and skill set to do the same.

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Receivers drafted by the Bucs in the fifth round haven’t fared so well

Tyler Johnson becomes just the fourth wide receiver ever taken by the Bucs in the fifth round. See how the other receivers fared.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will enter 2020 with Tom Brady as their quarterback, meaning receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, both of whom eclipsed 1,100 receiving yards last season, will have a six-time Super Bowl champion throwing to them.

While the Bucs lost receiver Breshad Perriman in free agency, they used their fifth-round pick in last week’s NFL draft to select wideout Tyler Johnson out of the University of Minnesota, making him just the fourth wide receiver ever taken in the fifth round by the Bucs. The former Golden Gopher had a monster 2019 season, finishing with 86 receptions 1,318 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, so he could turn out to be one of the underrated gems of the draft.

But, Johnson may have to overcome so not-so-great history for Bucs receivers drafted in the fifth round. Let’s take a look.

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The way the 2019 season ended makes the Tyler Johnson pick a no-brainer

The Buccaneers used a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft on Minnesota receiver Tyler Johnson, who should be able to step right in.

Offensive line was the priority for the Buccaneers entering the 2020 NFL draft, and the team was able to trade up a spot to get Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs with the 13th pick, which probably made Tom Brady breathe a little easier.

After the Bucs added running back depth in round three by selecting Vanderbilt’s Ke’Shawn Vaughn, it seemed the Bucs had addressed all their pressing needs on offense. Then, the team surprised some by using their fifth-round pick on Minnesota wide receiver Tyler Johnson. The Bucs have the perfect combo in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, so why go after a receiver?

Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

To answer that question, you just have to look back at how the 2019 season ended for the Bucs and their two Pro Bowl receivers. While Evans tied Hall of Famer Randy Moss for the most consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons to begin a career (6), his season ended in Week 14’s win over the Colts, when he came up limping with a hamstring injury following a touchdown catch.  One week later against the Detroit Lions, Godwin came up limping with a hamstring injury of his own, ending his season as well.

But the big story was what happened over the last three weeks with third receiver Breshad Perriman. Getting the start in Evans’ place in Week 15 against the Lions, Perriman had the first 100-yard receiving game of his NFL career, finishing with 113 receiving yards and three touchdowns. It was the first of three-straight 100-yard games Perriman would have to end the season, the last two of which came while Evans and Godwin were both out.

That proved to the Bucs that they needed that third option at receiver in case Evans and Godwin both went down again towards the end of the season, when playoff races are tight. It’s no surprise then that they took Johnson, who at 6-foot-2 is the same height as Perriman. And with Perriman’s departure to the Jets, the Bucs needed someone who could slide right in and be that third option. Johnson fits that mold, and, hopefully, will be able to put up big numbers of his own when called upon.

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Bucs use fifth-round pick on Minnesota WR Tyler Johnson

The Buccaneers added another receiver to their group in the fifth round of the NFL draft by taking Minnesota WR Tyler Johnson.

The Buccaneers took one Minnesota Golden Gopher last night in the second round of the NFL draft when they selected safety Antoine Winfield Jr. Today, the Bucs added another Gopher in round five when they selected Minnesota receiver Tyler Johnson.

Johnson will join Winfield in Tampa Bay, and his Minnesota teammate couldn’t have been happier to hear the news of Johnson’s drafting.

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