Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

Cleveland Browns: The 21 best pass-catchers since 1999

By Chad Porto

Pittsburgh Steelers Safety, Chris Hope, breaks up a pass intended for Cleveland's Aaron Shea during their game, Sunday December 24, 2005 at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The Steelers beat the Browns 41-0. (Photo by Jamie Mullen/NFLPhotoLibrary)
Pittsburgh Steelers Safety, Chris Hope, breaks up a pass intended for Cleveland's Aaron Shea during their game, Sunday December 24, 2005 at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The Steelers beat the Browns 41-0. (Photo by Jamie Mullen/NFLPhotoLibrary) /
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14 Nov 1999: Kevin Johnson #85 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates his touchdown during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Browns defeated the Steelers 16-15. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire /Allsport
14 Nov 1999: Kevin Johnson #85 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates his touchdown during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Browns defeated the Steelers 16-15. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire /Allsport /

2. Kevin Johnson

It’s everyone’s favorite game. WHAT ROUND WAS HE DRAFTED?

The first? Sorry, wrong.

The third? Nope, wrong-o.

The twelfth? What, are you even trying?

The second? DING-A-LA-DING! Holy crud, ANOTHER second-round wide receiver! He only played four full seasons in Cleveland, but only dropped below 700 yards receiving once, in 2000. That was the year Spergen Wynn and Doug Pederson took over for an injured Tim Couch, so that’s respectable.

Johnson came in as the 2nd pick of the Cleveland Browns in the 1999 NFL Draft, the first draft of the new organization. During his first three years in Cleveland, Johnson was the only real target, until 2002, when the offense came alive with Couch, Kelly Holcomb, William Green and others stepping up.

During his time in a Browns uniform, Johnson compiled 315 receptions for 3,836 yards, all the while racking up 23 touchdowns. His numbers would’ve been better if Pederson and Wynn didn’t absolutely suck. Butch Davis traded Johnson away to Jacksonville, and Johnson would end up bouncing around to two other teams before leaving the league in 2005.

Johnson was robbed of a Pro Bowl in 2001 when he racked up 84 receptions, 1,097 yards, and nine touchdowns. No justice.

What Johnson was able to do, on bad offenses, with no help on the other side, is nothing short of amazing. He was truly a guy who did it all and did it by himself. He was the Doom Slayer of the Cleveland Browns.

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