The Las Vegas Raiders have added a former Longhorn to their passing game. On Thursday, the Raiders signed wide receiver Collin Johnson. Terms of the deal have not been announced but Johnson brings plenty of experience to the Raiders wide receiver room.
Following an impressive run at Texas, Johnson was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft. Since then, he has appeared in games for the Jaguars, Giants, and Bears. His longest stint was with Chicago, where he spent the last two seasons.
During his NFL career, Johnson has hauled in 31 catches for 394 receiving yards. He has also found the endzone twice, both times during his rookie season. Through the first 38 games of his career, Johnson is averaging 12.7 yards a catch. He will now have an opportunity to showcase his skills in the Raiders' offense.
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) May 1, 2025
Collin Johnson's time in Texas
While Johnson has bounced around in the NFL, he was a productive player for the Longhorns. In four seasons, he recorded 188 receptions for 2,624 yards. He was also a popular endzone target, with seven touchdown catches. As Johnson emerged as a key part of the offense, he added to his trophy case.
The newest Raider finished his time in Austin with the sixth most receptions and fifth most receiving yards in program history. That helped make him an intriguing draft target for teams that needed help on offense. If the Raiders are able to get Johnson to replicate his college success, then there will be a lot to celebrate.
How Johnson fits into the Raider Offense
As Johnson prepares for a new chapter, he won't be expected to lead the offense. The role belongs to Brock Bowers, who was a force to be reckoned with during his rookie season. Johnson's task will be to be a reliable secondary option in the receiving game.
Over the last few years, the former Longhorns star has been looking for this type of opportunity. He only appeared in 12 games for the Bears and wasn't targeted much. In a Raiders offense that has undergone a lot of change, Johnson will get to show the player he can be.
When the season begins, Longhorns fans will have a new reason to keep an eye on the Raiders boxscore.
