Keyshawn Johnson: Did the Last WR Taken #1 Overall have UNREACHABLE EXPECTATIONS? | FPP

There have only been three wide receivers taken #1 Overall in NFL History. Dave Parks in 1965, Irving Fryar in 1984 and Keyshawn Johnson in 1996, with Johnson being the most recent as of 2024. Keyshawn Johnson was dominant for 2 years as a USC Trojan; as he was just bigger, stronger and faster than everyone else, and by the time the ’96 draft rolled around, he was the player that came off the board first, which is saying a lot as this draft is one of the deepest Wide Receiver drafts of all time, including Hall of Famers like Marvin Harrison and Terrell Owens. Upon arrival in the NFL, Johnson’s career was more up and down than you would want in a first overall pick. He started with the Jets and had some up and down years with shaky quarterback play. But once a coaching staff including Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick arrived, the New York Jets would make an AFC Championship in 1998, with Johnson turning in one of his best seasons on an offense including Curtis Martin and Wayne Chrebet. But that came apart quickly and by 2000, Johnson was a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. He would again play well for the Bucs, but wouldn’t quite reach superstar status, but in 2002, he was the #1 Receiver for the Bucs team that won Super Bowl 37. But then the next season, a feud with head coach Jon Gruden would get him shipped out of town. He spent his final few seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers giving them consistent production before calling it a career after 11 years; and transitioning to work with ESPN. Keyshawn Johnson was far from a bust, but his career can be looked at in a negative light due how coveted of a prospect he was coming out of college, even drawing comparisons to Jerry Rice and becoming the first overall pick, and while Johnson is definitely at fault for failing to reach his expectations; they were almost unrealistically high, and he never had a Joe Montana or Steve Young throwing him the ball. So Johnson did the best he could with what he had, and it turned out pretty well for him.

https://www.pro-football-reference.co...

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/genuine-colour/b...
License code: KM6PUEOIEPBY9PST

*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS