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Calvin Johnson on favorite WR: 'Hard to pass up Julio Jones'
Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson is a fan of Atlanta Falcons wideout Julio Jones. Tim Fuller/USA TODAY Sports

Calvin Johnson knows a thing or three about being the NFL’s best, so when he offers his opinion on the current state of affairs around the league we listen. Megatron was recently asked which receiver is currently his favorite, and he pointed to Atlanta Falcons star Julio Jones.

Johnson was in Italy when he gave a press conference for the Italian Bowl. We recently covered some pretty eye-opening things he said about why he really retired.

Now it’s time to turn to the matter at hand. He was asked who his favorite receiver is right now, which you can see around the 4:40 mark of this YouTube video.

“Favorite wide receiver … oh that’s tough” said Johnson. “I have a friend in A.J. Green, who’s with the Cincinnati Bengals. And I like Antonio Brown, but it’s hard to pass on Julio Jones. He’s a beast.”

Of all the receivers playing right now, perhaps nobody compares to Johnson in his prime like Jones. He’s got the size (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) to dominate the NFL’s top cornerbacks. He also can run like a track star, as his 4.39-second combine 40 time clearly shows. And once he has the ball in his hands, watch out. His strength and athleticism shine in those circumstances. No matter where Jones catches the ball, he’s a threat to go all the way.

In his first six NFL seasons, the former Alabama star has caught 497 passes for 7,610 yards (a gaudy 15.3 yards per catch) and 40 touchdowns. Ant that includes his 2013 season, in which he only played five games due to injury.

Clearly, Jones is among the best receivers in the league, and clearly his style of play has caught the eye of a legend. Even better, his connection with Matt Ryan could be one that continues for years to come, meaning we should expect to see prodigious stats being thrown up every year for the foreseeable future.

This article first appeared on Sportsnaut and was syndicated with permission.

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