I was intrigued by the potential of Juwan Johnson this year. Tyler Shough could be taking a second-year leap (he had an impressive rookie season, of course), and Johnson was one of the top 2 receivers a year ago. Maybe this is the year he joins the top 5 at tight end.
Johnson caught 77 passes on 102 targets last year; one of the busiest players at the position. Over the past two seasons, during which he's been one of the rare Saints skill players to play every game, he ranks 7th in receptions by tight ends, and 6th in yards. Good stuff.
But Johnson has caught only 3 touchdowns in each of those years, keeping him out of the top 5 at the position, even with all those catches and yards. It's disappointing he hasn't had more of a role down there.
Inside the 10-yard line, Johnson has seen a total of 3 passes thrown his way in two seasons. A total of 49 other tight ends have seen more than that those years, some of whom didn't even play in both of them.
| TARGETS INSIDE THE 10-YARD LINE, 2024-2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Tgt | No | Pct | TD |
| Trey McBride, Ari. | 24 | 10 | 42% | 6 |
| Hunter Henry, N.E. | 20 | 9 | 45% | 5 |
| Brock Bowers, L.V. | 17 | 8 | 47% | 5 |
| George Kittle, S.F. | 16 | 12 | 75% | 9 |
| Jonnu Smith, Pitt. | 16 | 12 | 75% | 9 |
| Travis Kelce, K.C. | 16 | 11 | 69% | 5 |
| Jake Ferguson, Dall. | 16 | 10 | 63% | 6 |
| Zach Ertz, Was. | 15 | 9 | 60% | 9 |
| Mark Andrews, Balt. | 15 | 8 | 53% | 8 |
| Colby Parkinson, LAR | 13 | 6 | 46% | 4 |
| David Njoku, Cle. | 13 | 6 | 46% | 6 |
| Dallas Goedert, Phi. | 12 | 9 | 75% | 8 |
| Sam LaPorta, Det. | 12 | 8 | 67% | 6 |
| Tyler Warren, Ind. | 11 | 4 | 36% | 2 |
| AJ Barner, Sea. | 10 | 6 | 60% | 6 |
| Cade Otton, T.B. | 10 | 5 | 50% | 3 |
| Isaiah Likely, Balt. | 10 | 6 | 60% | 5 |
| Kyle Pitts, Atl. | 10 | 4 | 40% | 4 |
| Dawson Knox, Buff. | 9 | 3 | 33% | 1 |
| Dalton Kincaid, Buff. | 8 | 4 | 50% | 2 |
| Dalton Schultz, Hou. | 8 | 5 | 63% | 4 |
| Pat Freiermuth, Pitt. | 8 | 5 | 63% | 5 |
| Brenton Strange, Jac. | 7 | 5 | 71% | 4 |
| Cole Kmet, Chi. | 7 | 7 | 100% | 4 |
| Mike Gesicki, Cin. | 7 | 2 | 29% | 0 |
| Theo Johnson, NYG | 7 | 2 | 29% | 2 |
| Tyler Higbee, LAR | 7 | 3 | 43% | 3 |
| Colston Loveland, Chi. | 6 | 4 | 67% | 3 |
| Darnell Washington, Pitt. | 6 | 3 | 50% | 2 |
| Davis Allen, LAR | 6 | 3 | 50% | 2 |
| Ja'Tavion Sanders, Car. | 6 | 5 | 83% | 2 |
| Tanner Hudson, Cin. | 6 | 4 | 67% | 2 |
| Tucker Kraft, G.B. | 6 | 5 | 83% | 4 |
| Tyler Conklin | 6 | 3 | 50% | 3 |
| Brock Wright, Det. | 5 | 5 | 100% | 4 |
| Darren Waller, Mia. | 5 | 5 | 100% | 5 |
| Elijah Higgins, Ari. | 5 | 3 | 60% | 1 |
| Foster Moreau | 5 | 4 | 80% | 3 |
| Jake Tonges, S.F. | 5 | 4 | 80% | 4 |
| Michael Mayer, L.V. | 5 | 4 | 80% | 1 |
| Noah Gray, K.C. | 5 | 4 | 80% | 3 |
| Oronde Gadsden, LAC | 5 | 3 | 60% | 2 |
| Austin Hooper, N.E. | 4 | 3 | 75% | 3 |
| Jordan Akins | 4 | 2 | 50% | 1 |
| Josh Oliver, Min. | 4 | 4 | 100% | 3 |
| Nick Vannett | 4 | 3 | 75% | 3 |
| Noah Fant, Cin. | 4 | 2 | 50% | 2 |
| T.J. Hockenson, Min. | 4 | 3 | 75% | 3 |
| Tommy Tremble, Car. | 4 | 4 | 100% | 3 |
| Brevyn Spann-Ford, Dall. | 3 | 2 | 67% | 1 |
| Cade Stover, Hou. | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0 |
| Charlie Kolar, Balt. | 3 | 3 | 100% | 3 |
| Chigoziem Okonkwo, Ten. | 3 | 2 | 67% | 1 |
| Elijah Arroyo, Sea. | 3 | 2 | 67% | 0 |
| Gunnar Helm, Ten. | 3 | 2 | 67% | 1 |
| Harold Fannin, Cle. | 3 | 2 | 67% | 2 |
| Hunter Long, Jac. | 3 | 2 | 67% | 2 |
| John FitzPatrick, G.B. | 3 | 2 | 67% | 1 |
| Johnny Mundt, | 3 | 3 | 100% | 2 |
| Josh Whyle, G.B. | 3 | 2 | 67% | 1 |
| Juwan Johnson, N.O. | 3 | 1 | 33% | 1 |
| Luke Farrell, S.F. | 3 | 2 | 67% | 1 |
| Mason Taylor, NYJ | 3 | 2 | 67% | 1 |
| Mitchell Evans, Car. | 3 | 2 | 67% | 2 |
| Mo Alie-Cox, Ind. | 3 | 2 | 67% | 1 |
As of now, the Saints haven't brought back Taysom Hill; that could help Johnson. But they signed Noah Fant, a negative. So while I kind of like Johnson in PPR formats, it would be nice if we could see him get more targets near the goal line and zoom up to 7-8 touchdowns. Or even 5.
--Andy Richardson
