Raiders add depth receiver with ties to coaching staff

Johnson joins the Raiders after two seasons with the Chicago Bears, spending last year with new Raiders wide receivers coach Chris Beatty.

The Raiders are Johnson’s fourth team in his six seasons in the NFL. A fifth-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020, Johnson was waived after his rookie season with the team. He then spent two seasons with the New York Giants before joining the Bears in 2023.

Despite his familiarity with Beattly, Johnson faces long odds to make the 53-man roster.

The Raiders drafted two receivers in second-round rookie Jack Bech and fourth-round rookie Dont’e Thornton Jr., and they are expected to convert sixth-round quarterback Tommy Mellott to wide receiver as well. Towards the end of the bench, the Raiders signed Kyle Philips, who is familiar with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly from their time at UCLA. This is also assuming that the Raiders do not bring anyone in who could potentially be squeezed off of their current teams due to roster constraints.

It is hard to imagine what the Raiders are going to do with all of the wide receivers on their roster so far. At least four of a likely six roster spots for the position can be locked in (Bech, Thornton, Jskobi Meyers, Tre Tucker). Mellott showing well in his early development would go a long way towards securing his own roster spot, while Johnson would be battling with Philips and similar end-of-bench types to earn the final one.

To his credit, Johnson has made four 53-man rosters in his five NFL seasons, with the one missed season being due to a torn Achilles. He will now have to compete to make another one.