Tez johnson Becomes First Seventh-Round Pick in NFL History to Lead League in Receiving Yards
In a stunning turn of events, rookie wide receiver Tez Johnson of the Carolina Panthers has ascended to the top of the NFL’s receiving yards leaderboard, becoming the first seventh-round draft pick in league history to achieve the feat. Johnson currently boasts 749 receiving yards, narrowly edging out Buccaneers’ receiver Emeka Egbuka (748) heading into Monday Night football.
Johnson’s improbable rise underscores the evolving landscape of NFL talent evaluation and the potential for overlooked prospects to make an immediate impact. While traditionally considered longshots, seventh-round selections rarely contribute considerably as rookies, let alone lead the league in a major statistical category. johnson’s success challenges conventional wisdom and offers hope to undrafted and late-round players across the league. The panthers’ decision to draft Johnson, and his subsequent performance, could influence future draft strategies, prompting teams to more closely scrutinize potential gems hidden in the later rounds.
The NFL’s rookie receiving yards leaderboard,through Sunday’s games,currently stands as follows:
- Tez Johnson,Panthers: 749
- Emeka Egbuka,Buccaneers: 748
- Tyler Warren (TE),Colts: 662
- Oronde Gadsden II (TE),Chargers: 507
- Harold Fannin (TE),Browns: 462
other notable rookie performances this week included R.J. Harvey (Broncos), Jayden Higgins (Texans), and Ashton Jeanty (Raiders), each recording 4 receptions.Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, before exiting with an injury, completed nine of 19 passes for 41 yards and a touchdown, demonstrating his ability to convert crucial third downs with his legs, ranking third in the NFL with 14 first downs gained on third-down runs. Mayfield also leads all quarterbacks with at least 10 runs on third down in conversion rate.
