Buoyed by Charles Johnson's unexpected emergence as the Minnesota Vikings' most productive receiver, Teddy Bridgewater finished as Pro Football Focus' top-rated quarterback for the final five weeks of the 2014 season.
After evaluating the game and practice film, offensive coordinator Norv Turner acknowledged Wednesday, via ESPN Cleveland's Tony Grossi, that Johnson is "far and away our best receiver."
Originally a Packers seventh-round draft pick out of Grand Valley State in 2013, Johnson was billed as a raw but intriguing small-school flier with a sub-4.40 forty-yard dash and a 40-inch vertical leap, eye-opening numbers for a 6-foot-2, 215-pound receiver.
In other words, the Browns have to be kicking themselves for failing to recognize his potential as a big receiver capable of operating outside the numbers and down the field.
Now that Turner is recognizing Johnson as Bridgewater's top target, that should put Greg Jenningson the chopping block with an $8.9 million salary that is scheduled to count $11 million against the 2015 salary cap.
Turner's comments should be taken as a wake-up call for 2013 first-round pick Cordarrelle Patterson, whose route running was still so unreliable that he couldn't get off the bench in the second half of the season.
If Patterson starts gaining his quarterback's trust this offseason -- a huge "if" -- Bridgewater should build on his impressive rookie season with a talented young wide receiver corps.
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