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Cleveland Browns: Top 5 receiving seasons since 1999

By Randy Gurzi

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 3: Wide receiver Josh Gordon #12 of the Cleveland Browns catches a touchdown reception during the second half against the Buffalo Bills FirstEnergy Stadium on October 3, 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Bills 37-24. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 3: Wide receiver Josh Gordon #12 of the Cleveland Browns catches a touchdown reception during the second half against the Buffalo Bills FirstEnergy Stadium on October 3, 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Bills 37-24. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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14 Nov 1999: Kevin Johnson #85 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates the touchdown during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Browns defeated the Steelers 16-15. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire /Allsport
14 Nov 1999: Kevin Johnson #85 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates the touchdown during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Browns defeated the Steelers 16-15. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire /Allsport /

Kevin Johnson. 5. player. 53. . 2001. 1,097 yards, 9 TDs

In 2001, the Browns started to make some strides as a young franchise. They were 2-14 in their inaugural season and followed that up with a 3-13 mark the next season. This year though, they were able to win seven games, which led them into the 2002 season where they made the postseason for the first time since returning with nine wins.

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Back to 2001, the team was led by young quarterback Tim Couch, who was still learning the ropes in the NFL after being taken first overall out of Kentucky in 1999. He finished the season with 3,040 yards and 17 touchdowns — and an unfortunate 21 picks. His favorite target was Kevin Johnson who brought in 84 receptions for 1,097 yards and nine touchdowns.

Another one of their picks in their first season, Johnson came to Cleveland by way of Syracuse in the second round of the draft. The 32nd overall pick, he was famous for catching a Hail Mary in 1999 that led to their first win since returning to the league — they knocked off the New Orleans Saints with that play.

Johnson was a solid receiver who had 3,836 yards in four and a half seasons with Cleveland but was surprisingly cut by coach Butch Davis who had benched him the week prior to waiving him. Johnson was claimed by more than half the teams in the league, but never caught on anywhere else.

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