The New Orleans Saints invested big in Juwan Johnson this offseason and through the first three sessions of OTAs he's showing why.
That was particularly clear on Thursday's session, when he hauled in three passes and a pair of TDs, one from each young QB.
"I think he’ll benefit playing in coach Kellen Moore’s offense," said the Cajun Cannon Bobby Hebert in his post-practice breakdown.
Hear more of Bobby Hebert's OTA breakdown on WWL and Audacy. Can't see the embed? Click here.
That was certainly the hope when the Saints signed Johnson to a 3-year, $30 million extension after another up-and-down season. The positive thing this time around is he's healthy and hitting the ground running, unlike last year when it was discovered during OTAs that he had a stress fracture in one of his feet that would require surgery. The injury cost Johnson almost all of training camp, and while he appeared in all 17 games he didn't start to be featured until later in the year.
As a focal point in the offense, in large part due to injuries at the WR position, Johnson delivered and ended the year with 50 catches for 548 yards and 3 TDs. Half of those catches came over the final six games of the season.
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"I know we’ve said this in the past, he’s been all-Metairie or whatever, outstanding in training camp because we’ll say 'use him in fantasy football, he’ll have an outstanding season.' " Hebert continued. "He might have an outstanding month, but can he have a complete season?"
We'll have a better idea on that front once camp starts and the team begins having padded practices. They'll continue with unpadded 7-on-7 drills through next week's three-day minicamp.
"Overall it's been kind of what we expected," Hebert said. "The guys who you think are gonna be the playmakers, like Chris Olave, Juwan Johnson, they are stepping up. I want to see a little bit more from the secondary, but when you’re doing 7-on-7, the offense should win.”