Buffalo Bills select wideout Steve Johnson with second seventh-round pick
With the No. 224 overall pick in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select wide receiver Steve Johnson out of Kentucky.
Johnson measures in at 6-2 and 200-pounds. After two years at Chabot College, Johnson enrolled at the University of Kentucky. He struggled to adjust, ending up in the coach’s doghouse for a poor work ethic. Johnson caught just 12 passes for 159 yards and one touchdown in 13 games that season.
He worked hard in the off-season to earn 10 starts in 2007. In those games, Johnson caught 60 balls for 1,041 yards (17.4 avg.) and 13 touchdowns. The stats were good enough to earn a sot on the All-SEC first team.
Johnson doesn’t have a lot of bulk yet, but his height and 4.55 40-time make him a possession receiver candidate. He isn’t afraid to use his 32.5-inch vertical to go up and fight for balls.
NFL Draft Countdown has him ranked as the 29th-best receiver in the draft class. The site also has a scouting report:
Strengths:
Terrific natural athlete…Very good size and bulk with long arms…Quick and plays faster than he times…Outstanding leaper…Great ball skills and body control…Big play threat who came through in the clutch…Still improving and has some upside.Weaknesses:
Does not have great timed speed…Not real explosive and lacks a burst…Needs to improve as a route runner…Not real strong or physical…Raw and needs technique work…Inconsistent with lapses in concentration…Just two years of DI experience.Notes:
His cousin, Marquise Lewis, played football at Kentucky State…Didn’t play football in high school until his junior year…A JUCO transfer from Chabot College..Basically a one-year wonder..Really put himself on the map with a huge senior season and he actually outperformed his more highly publicized teammate and fellow prospect Keenan Burton..Is unpolished but has some intriguing physical tools to work with.
Here is a video from ESPN after Kentucky upset LSU. Johnson scored the game-winning touchdown:
Johnson will have a chance to contribute immediately on special teams and will be given a shot to win the No. 5 receiver spot in training camp. Lee Evans, James Hardy, Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish have a hold on the top four. Johnson is another big target for Trent Edwards to find.
According to BuffaloBills.com, Johnson is good friends with running back Marshawn Lynch, having grown up across in San Francisco. They both support Family First, an organization of athletes who support the Bay Area community.
The Bills have one more pick today, the No. 251 overall pick (second-to-last overall). It should be another project type of player.
What do you think of Steve Johnson?
This entry was posted
on Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 5:02 pm and is filed under Steve Johnson, Wide receivers, NFL Draft.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
THE AUTHOR
RECENT ARTICLES BY DIVISION RIVALS
ARCHIVE
SPONSORS
Online Seats
Buffalo Bills Schedule Sabres Tickets
Ticket Specialists
Buffalo Bills Tickets Buffalo sabres Tickets
Coast to Coast Tickets
Buffalo Bills Tickets HSBC Arena Seating Chart Super Bowl Tickets - NFL Theater Show Tickets Seating Charts Online
10 Responses to “Buffalo Bills select wideout Steve Johnson with second seventh-round pick”
April 27th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
A great pick, and a great kid! He accumulated 60 catches-1041yards-13TDs(most importantly)! He’s 6′2 and 210lbs, and just may find himself in the slot above Reed and Parrish by midway(maybe even earlier) in the season THIS YEAR! I think this is one hell of a 7th round pick!
April 27th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Sorry, I forgot to mention those are his last year’s totals ONLY!
April 27th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
I’m aware…hell of a season considering he did nothing the year before and was in the coach’s dog house. It didn’t hurt the he had Andre Woodson throwing the ball to him.
I doubt he’ll be the No. 3 by the end of the season. It usually takes WR’s a few years to acclimate to the NFL. Additionally, Johnson is pretty raw.
April 27th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
I told you Dan! Youboty came in fat and overweight into camp and voluntaries this year, and now it looks like he’s going to be cut. YEAH- you know that I hate Ashton Youboty Dan, and this last pick just thrilled me, because all 3 CBs we got in this draft can outplay him. Yo-Booty is DONE!! GOOOOOO BILLLLLS!
April 27th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
And I’m sorry, but it doesn’t take that long to get some playing time on our team with the WRs that we have right now. It’s just a matter of him being better RIGHT NOW than Reed or Parrish. Just my opinion though, I know what all the analyst say, but it doesn’t take every WR that long to start playing well, and I’m only expecting him to take our #3 spot. If you meant what you said there, than you must think that we start Reed over Hardy, and I know you don’t feel that way!
April 27th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
I think Hardy will play the slot behind Reed for a few games. But, I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins the starting spot in camp.
I knew you would be thrilled of Youboty’s demise. Unless he’s been working real hard this off-season he should be gone.
April 27th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Yeah, Yo-Booty’s butt is BIG! Haha, lol! No Way in Hell Reed starts over Hardy from the time he arrives in Buffalo, I hope that’s not just MY opinion either! I think your just trying to not get your hopes up before the season. LOL! Don’t Worry, Be Happy! This was an excellent draft for the Bills, and give them a solid A. Also, Amon puts the pressure on Wright to play better this year when we give him his shots at playing time- so it was a GOOD pick, especially over the Derek Fine pick!
April 27th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
I’m intrigued with Amon, but then again, Dwayne Wright had crazy numbers for New Mexico State.
April 27th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
True! You make a good point, and I feel that way as well, but one of them has to be more talented than the other right? Maybe that’s what Buffalo’s kind of thinking, good point though- neither one being that much different from the other is definitely a possibility!
April 27th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I think Wright just needs to adjust to not getting so many carries. One of them will emerge this year
Leave a comment