New Orleans Saints: Making sense of Ted Ginn Jr.’s roller coaster of a career
By Sean Nief
Ginn’s lengthy NFL Career
Since entering the league, Ginn has constantly been met with high expectations considering his high spot in the draft. It would be unfair to compare his production to that of 2007 draftee Calvin Johnson Jr., but for a top 10 pick Ginn has not performed as one.
Across his 12 seasons in the league, Ginn has played for five different teams.
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After a promising sophomore season with the Dolphins where he totaled 790 receiving yards and two touchdowns on both the ground and through the air, his numbers diminished greatly. His receiving stats the very next season dropped to nearly half of his previous year’s production and Ginn moved on to the 49ers.
Throughout most of his career, Ginn has been labeled as a bust because of his minimal production. However, in the 2015 season, Ginn proved just how great he could be in the right system. Playing for the red-hot Carolina Panthers with MVP Cam Newton, Ginn had a career year. Prior to 2015, Ginn was averaging only 349.3 yards and 1.4 touchdowns per season.
In 2015 alone, his numbers jumped to 739 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was an X-factor in Carolina’s run to the Super Bowl and proved he still belongs in the league.
Upon Ginn’s arrival to New Orleans, it seemed as if the Saints were going to be seeing that same production Ginn had in 2015. In his first season in New Orleans, Ginn nearly tied his career-high with 787 receiving yards and tagged on four receiving touchdowns.
In that 2017 season, Brees helped Ginn reach a career-high 52.5 yards a game. Since his debut in NOLA, however, Ginn hasn’t seen anything close to that same production.
Ginn may have not put up historic numbers throughout his career so far, but there’s a reason that he has stuck around the league for so long. Ginn possesses a skill unmatched by many in the league, even after 12 years in the league.
So what has kept him around for so long?