Juwan Johnson

Johnson set career highs across the board in 2022 with 42 catches for 508 yards and seven touchdowns on 65 targets, but he took a step back in 2023, failing to get on the same page with new Saints quarterback Derek Carr for much of the season. Johnson saw only six fewer targets but dipped to 368 yards and four touchdowns. His 6.2 yards per target represented his lowest average yet, apart from a four-catch rookie year in 2020. The converted wide receiver saw his aDOT drop for a second straight year, down to 7.2, as he mostly competed for short targets with Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas while speedsters Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed stretched the field. That whole group minus Thomas is back for 2024, plus jack-of-all-trades Taysom Hill remains on hand to cut into Johnson’s playing time. Looking on the bright side, Johnson finished last year strong with 216 yards and three TDs over the final four games, and it's possible new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak won't use Hill at tight end as much as Pete Carmichael did.

Johnson scored seven touchdowns in a seven-game span in the middle of last season. He didn’t find the end zone outside of that stretch and finished outside the top 10 at tight end with 11 targets inside the 20-yard line, yet he was tied for third in touchdowns among tight ends. Apart from the TD heroics, Johnson ranked outside the top 15 in targets (65), catches (42) and yards (508). He played at least 66 percent of offensive snaps on 10 different occasions, though never more than 78 percent. Johnson could offset some likely TD catch regression with the help of a QB upgrade after the Saints signed Derek Carr, whose former teammate Foster Moreau was brought in to replace Adam Trautman as the inline tight end. Johnson still figures to get most of the TE snaps in passing situations but projects as only the fourth or fifth receiving option overall in an offense with WRs Chris Olave, Michael Thomas and Rashid Shaheed and RB Alvin Kamara.

Though not quite useful for fantasy purposes last season, Johnson was an intriguing player in 2021. The undrafted tight end changed positions ahead of his second season and ended up pacing the team's tight ends in touchdowns with four scores over 14 games. However, entering the 2022 campaign, Johnson finds himself low on the depth chart again, with Trautman, Taysom Hill, Vannett and Chris Herndon all ahead of him early in training camp. The 25-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Saints this offseason, but he'll have an uphill battle for meaningful playing time in 2022.

Johnson was one of the latest undrafted receivers to make a name for himself in New Orleans. However, the 6-foot-4, 231-pound Johnson did his best work as a blocker in 2020 and has now moved to tight end ahead of the 2021 campaign. While there is a huge opportunity for someone to step up in New Orleans with Michael Thomas (ankle) expected to miss the first quarter of the season, Johnson may be stuck in part-time role as he continues to learn a new position.