The New England Patriots may be close to adding help in the receiving corps in the form of ex-Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson, who struggled to gain a foothold last season with the San Francisco 49ers and started just one game.
Johnson was productive for most of his seven years in Buffalo, topping out from 2010 to 2012, when he averaged 79 receptions, 1,041 yards and eight touchdowns. Last season as a 49er he started just one game; he caught 35 passes (50 targets), piled up 435 yards and scored three touchdowns while the Niners' passing game floundered with a struggling Colin Kaepernick at the helm.
The New York Jets are believed to have shown interest in Johnson, but rumor has it he's narrowed his choices to the New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers. Should he join New England, he will renew a rivalry with Jets' cornerback Darrelle Revis.
Jets have expressed interest in Stevie Johnson, I'm told. However, he has narrowed his choices to Patriots & Chargers pic.twitter.com/mwO1kxJ6Jf
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) March 17, 2015
During Johnson's time in Buffalo, he became known as one of the only receivers in the NFL to actually give Revis trouble. He has more catches (38) against the Jets than any other team, and he's scored four touchdowns against Gang Green, which is tied for his total vs. Kansas City.
For most of those seasons with the Bills Johnson was the No. 1 receiver, and Revis generally follows opponents' top receiver wherever he lines up.
In New England the primary pass catchers are tight end Rob Gronkowski and slot receiver Julian Edelman. Brandon LaFell had some success on the outside for the Patriots, but he's not indispensable. In San Diego, Keenan Allen is the No. 1, but behind him there is a lot of opportunity for Johnson to make his mark.
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