The Downside of Being the #1 Overall Pick, and Overcoming QB Purgatory
The term “QB purgatory” is the best way I can describe Keyshawn Johnson’s career. From the time he was drafted #1 overall in 1996. (Johnson) was subjected to a revolving door of quarterbacks. In his rookie season he was subjected to a trio of below average QB who collectively mustered a meager completion percentage of just 53.9% with only 22 TD with a combined 30 INT.
The Jets QB play didn’t get going until 1998, when a 35 yr. old Vinny Testaverde brought consistency to the position. Unfortunately for Keyshawn and the New York Jets, the 1999 season opener finished with Testaverde leaving the game with a Torn left Achilles, and left Keyshawn looking for Chemistry with another batch of Subpar quarterbacks.
Johnson’s career is a prime example of how being #1 overall, and going to a bad Organization can really hinder even the best of athletes. Imagine if he was taken by the Colts. If he has the opportunity to have a QB like Peyton Manning? What would Johnson’s Numbers look like if he had A Legendary QB slinging him the ball the way Jerry Rice did with two Hall of Fame QB’s (Montana, Young) instead of the Quincy Carter’s and the Sean King’s of the NFL landscape. Here is a list of QB’s that Keyshawn Played with. I almost feel like his stats are 100% Hall of Fame worthy considering he never truly had a franchise QB in their prime. 
Consistent Excellence Amidst Instability
Throughout his career, Johnson had to adapt to various quarterbacks, which is a significant challenge for a wide receiver. Yet, he managed to amass 814 receptions for 10,571 yards and scored 64 touchdowns. This level of production, despite the lack of consistency at the quarterback position, highlights Johnson’s exceptional ability to connect with any quarterback and produce results. 
Keepin’ it Real.
Keyshawn said on a recent episode of ” All the Smoke Podcast.” that he would only trade his career with 2 wide receivers. “Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin.” Both of which were fortunate to enough to share most of their careers with H.O.F talent slinging the ball, meanwhile, Keyshawn only had the same starting quarterback to start and finish the season One Single time in his entire 11-year career. Despite this, his performance never wavered, proving his elite status as a receiver.
During the ’00 offseason Johnson signed with a Tampa Bay Bucs organization that just lost in the 1999 NFC conference championship and thought signing Johnson would put them over the hump to win a Superbowl.
Making this move was the right one, and Keyshawn would end up holding up the Lombardi Trophy, but not until they suffered back-to-back wildcard losses in ’00 & ’01 before winning the Superbowl vs The Oakland Raiders. Keyshawn had 6 catches for 69 yards. Up until this time in his career Johnson had only missed 3 games total, and all were in his rookie year.
The following season is when Keshawn and Head coach Jon Gruden continued to butt heads over targets, which in turn saw Keshawn being Deactivated for the last 7 games of the season and would be sent to Dallas the following year. Looking back its hard to imagine how any wide receiver would amount any sort of career accolades with this list of QB’s.
- Vinny Testaverde: Keyshawn Johnson began his NFL journey with the New York Jets after being drafted as the first overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft. He played alongside quarterback Vinny Testaverde during his early years with the Jets.
- Glenn Foley: Foley was another quarterback with whom Keyshawn Johnson had some playing time during his Jets tenure.
- Rick Mirer: Johnson also shared the field with Rick Mirer, who played quarterback for the Jets during the late 1990s.
- Trent Dilfer: After joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2000, Keyshawn Johnson played alongside quarterback Trent Dilfer. The Buccaneers traded two first-round draft picks to acquire Johnson from the Jets.
- Shaun King: During his time with the Buccaneers, Johnson caught passes from Shaun King, who was the starting quarterback for Tampa Bay.
- Brad Johnson: Later in his career, Keyshawn Johnson won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers in the 2002 season. Brad Johnson was the quarterback during that championship run.
- Tony Romo: In 2006, Keyshawn Johnson joined the Dallas Cowboys, where he played alongside quarterback Tony Romo.
- Jake Delhomme: Johnson spent his final NFL season (2006) with the Carolina Panthers, where Jake Delhomme was the starting quarterback.
- Quincy Carter: I appreciate your keen eye! Quincy Carter was indeed one of the quarterbacks Keyshawn Johnson played with during his time with the Dallas Cowboys in 2004 and 2005. Carter’s tenure was marked by both promise and challenges.
- Drew Henson: Another quarterback during Johnson’s Cowboys days was Drew Henson, who briefly shared the field with him.
