Earlier this month, Juwan Johnson found himself lying awake late at night, unable to sleep. It was around 11 p.m. or midnight, and the uncertainty of free agency weighed heavily on his mind. The New Orleans Saints had made him a compelling offer, but he wasn’t sure if staying was the right choice. He needed clarity about his role in the team’s evolving offense and wanted to understand exactly why the Saints wanted him to return.
In search of answers, Johnson picked up the phone and called Kellen Moore, the newly appointed head coach of the Saints. Despite the late hour, Moore answered, and the two engaged in a candid conversation for nearly 20 minutes. Moore explained how he envisioned Johnson fitting into the team’s strategy and his plans for utilizing him in the offense.
Reflecting on the discussion, Johnson said it wasn’t a single answer that convinced him to stay. Instead, it was the fact that Moore was willing to take the time to talk to him so late at night, demonstrating a level of care and commitment that resonated deeply.
“I had to understand where we were going because something inside me kept telling me, ‘Man, I have to stay in New Orleans,’” Johnson said. “But if I was going to stay, it had to make sense. I had to make a smart decision.”
The decision wasn’t easy. Johnson described the free-agency process as exhausting and mentally taxing. He wrestled with the possibility of uprooting his family and leaving the team that had taken a chance on him when he was an undrafted free-agent wide receiver.
As free agency loomed, Johnson admitted he had grown frustrated. While teams around the league were rapidly resigning their own players, the Saints had been unusually quiet about his future. He noticed other players securing deals while he remained in limbo.
However, in the days leading up to free agency, the Saints finally made their move. They presented Johnson with a strong contract offer—one that made him feel valued because the team didn’t attempt to low-ball him with an initial figure.
Even though the offer impressed him, Johnson still wanted to explore his options. Other teams had expressed interest, making his decision even more difficult. Two teams, in particular, caught his attention—the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks.
In Denver, he would have had the opportunity to reunite with Sean Payton, the former Saints coach who had played a key role in converting him from wide receiver to tight end. Seattle also had strong appeal since their offensive coordinator, Klint Kubiak, had worked closely with him in New Orleans and helped him achieve a career-best season.
During his deliberations, Johnson found himself reflecting on a pivotal decision he had made earlier in his football career. As a senior in college, he transferred from Penn State to Oregon. Though grateful for his time in Oregon, he admitted that part of him had always wondered if he should have stayed.
“When I get this opportunity again, I’m going to stay,” Johnson recalled telling himself.
Ultimately, that sentiment, along with his conversation with Moore, led him to sign a three-year, $30.75 million contract with the Saints. The deal placed him among the top-paid tight ends in the league, ranking 12th in terms of annual average value. More importantly, he felt at peace with his choice.
Now, Johnson is focused on building upon his success from the 2024 season, during which he recorded personal bests with 50 receptions and 548 receiving yards. However, despite reaching new heights statistically, he admitted that he wasn’t fully satisfied with his performance.
One of his main frustrations was his tendency to start seasons slowly—a pattern that had persisted throughout his five-year career. Additionally, his best performances had coincided with injuries to key players like Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed.
“It makes me happy, but it also makes me upset,” Johnson said. “Because I don’t want to just be a guy that’s used when others are injured.”
He believes he has already shown in practice the type of player he can be, but his goal moving forward is to put together a consistent season from start to finish. He also doesn’t want to be seen as just a pass-catching tight end. While he acknowledges that his receiving ability is a strength, he has been working hard to develop as a run blocker—an area where he felt he made significant strides last season.
Still, Johnson insists he has even more to offer. At 28 years old, he is now on the third contract of his career, but he’s not thinking about slowing down anytime soon. While many players don’t get the opportunity to sign a fourth contract, Johnson firmly believes he has six or seven more years left in the league.
“This is a three-year contract,” Johnson said. “But I want to be in New Orleans a lot longer than that.”
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