Tez Johnson

Career StatsC+

Year	Team	GP	Rec	Yards	TD
Career		16	28	322	5
2025		16	28	322	5

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Spotrac flags Tez Johnson's contract as a market-rate deal; FanVerdicts grades it B Contract Value Index because the production-to-pay ratio shakes out accordingly. Johnson's rookie deal carries a $1.08M AAV across four years—textbook seventh-round compensation—and his C+ performance grade paired with modest 2025 season counting stats (28 receptions, 322 receiving yards across 16 games) reflects a young depth piece still finding his footing at the professional level. For a fourth-year receiver on a rookie scale contract, the salary floor is negligible relative to positional market rates, making this a low-risk commitment even if production remains below-average; the real upside is cap-neutral development room. At 24 years old in his rookie season, Johnson represents the exact archetype rookie deals are designed to protect—affordable runway to prove NFL readiness without tying up resources. The B grade acknowledges that his draft-day value as a seventh-round selection combined with limited guaranteed exposure creates favorable contract economics, even as the off-field character concerns flagged in recent media coverage introduce legitimate developmental uncertainty. The Buccaneers' recent offseason activity—focused on depth signings rather than star acquisitions—suggests an evaluation mindset that aligns with giving a high-upside lottery ticket like Johnson time to mature both on and off the field.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Tez's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Snap share and per-play impact line up to a C+ performance grade for Tez Johnson. The seventh-round receiver enters 2026 as a below-average starter-caliber prospect whose modest rookie output has yet to justify the early-season hype surrounding his draft-day value. Johnson's 2025 season numbers—322 receiving yards across 16 games—reveal limited volume and production despite the Buccaneers' willingness to feature him following injuries at the position, a clear indicator that he has not separated himself as a reliable option in the offense. His strength lies in opportunity leverage: operating as a late-round selection given consistent snaps when injuries created an opening, he demonstrated enough competence to hold a roster spot, though the volume itself underscores his lack of impact at a meaningful level. The critical headwind is the damaging off-field cheating scandal that has clouded his narrative heading into 2026—media consensus frames him as a lottery-ticket prospect with upside potential, but one whose maturity and decision-making are now under intense scrutiny. As a rookie still developing within the system, Johnson's ability to separate from replacement-level depth will hinge on whether on-field performance can overcome character concerns and prove the draft-steal narrative has substance beyond draft capital happenstance.

How Tez Compares at the Position

Tez Johnson ranks 109th of 295 graded wide receivers by performance. That slots Tez between Andrei Iosivas (C+) just ahead and Devaughn Vele (C+) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Tez Johnson enters 2026 carrying a distinctly mixed reputation that perfectly encapsulates his C-grade public perception. The media narrative around the seventh-round receiver has been a tale of two storylines: his emergence as a potential draft steal when given opportunities due to Tampa Bay's receiver injuries, contrasted sharply against a damaging off-field cheating scandal that has raised serious character concerns. While analysts have praised his value relative to his draft position and noted the Buccaneers' willingness to feature him in their offense, his modest 28 catches for 322 yards leave him largely unproven at the professional level. The recent controversy has significantly tempered what was once cautious optimism about his development, creating a cloud of uncertainty around his maturity and decision-making. Johnson is now viewed as the quintessential boom-or-bust prospect—a lottery ticket with legitimate upside potential, but one whose off-field baggage has media and fans taking a decidedly wait-and-see approach heading into the upcoming season.