Best of the Packers: Top 10 wide receivers since 1960
By Phil Watson
2. James Lofton (1978-86)
The Green Bay Packers used the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NFL Draft to select Stanford wide receiver James Lofton and he hit the ground running.
Lofton was a Pro Bowler as a rookie in 1978, the first of his seven selections while with the Packers, and earned All-Pro status in 1981. He led the NFL in yards per catch in 1983 (22.4) and 1984 (22.0).
He twice set a career-high with 71 receptions, turning the trick in 1980 and 1981, and had a career-best 1,361 receiving yards in 1984. Lofton caught eight touchdowns in both the 1981 and 1983 campaigns.
After being acquitted of sexual assault charges in 1986, however, the Packers dealt the star receiver to the Los Angeles Raiders in April 1987 in exchange for a third-round pick in 1987 and a fourth-rounder in 1988.
Lofton had 530 receptions for 9,656 yards and 49 touchdowns in nine seasons in Green Bay.
He later played for the Buffalo Bills, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 1991, the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams before retiring after the 1993 season.
He is third in Packers history with 530 receptions, second with 9,656 receiving yards, tied for seventh with 49 touchdown catches and fourth with an average of 18.2 yards per catch.
An assistant coach with the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders from 2002-08, Lofton was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
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