Position: Tight End
Height: 6′-6″
Weight: 257 pounds
School: Penn State
2024 NFL Draft: Theo Johnson Scouting Report
Theo Johnson was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He was a highly-recruited high school wide receiver for Holy Names HS and was rated as a four-star recruit. He was considered the number one target out of Canada in his recruiting class. Johnson joined Penn State as a hybrid weapon and has since bulked up to an ideal stature for an NFL tight end. Finally, in 2023, Theo Johnson got his chance to start full-time after being stuck behind the current Jacksonville Jaguars tight end, Brenton Strange.
Strengths
- Johnson tracks the ball well enough. He extends his frame to make the catch;
- Johnson makes reasonable adjustments to the ball. He is capable of erasing quarterback misthrows with his catch radius;
- Johnson has a well-built frame. Physically, he looks like an NFL tight end right now;
- It’s a very intriguing physical build for Johnson. NFL teams will covet that at the next level;
- Vs 2024 Draft Tight Ends: Projected SpeedScore 120.99 (1st).
Weaknesses
- Johnson plays heavy. He takes forever to gear down in his routes. His slow feet and slow stride are concerning;
- Burst is a concern for him. He doesn’t pull away from defenders or gain separation at a functional level;
- Johnson needs to transition to a runner quickly. He needs to capitalize on his size after the catch;
- Despite excellent size, Johnson doesn’t have elite playing strength. He needs to be developed as a blocker;
- Route tree could be better for Johnson. Stiff hips limit his route running ceiling. He often plays too high in his pads, leading his torso to overcommit on breaks;
- Vs 2024 Draft Tight Ends: Yards After the Catch: 5 (17th), Career Yards per Reception: 12.3 (11th), Yards per Route Run: 1.26 (15th), Yards Per Team Pass Attempt: 0.82 (13th).
NFL Comparison: Mo Alie-Cox
Teams With Need At Position: Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins
Projection: Round 5
Bottom Line on Theo Johnson
Johnson has some positive attributes that make him a decent option as a receiver. He has good ball-tracking skills and can extend his frame to make catches. Additionally, Johnson has a large catch radius, which allows him to box out defenders and make the catch effectively. He is particularly effective as a receiver underneath between the hashes. He is capable of erasing quarterback misthrows with his catch radius. Physically, Johnson has a well-built frame that makes him look like an NFL tight end.
However, there are some areas where Johnson struggles. He tends to play heavy, and his slow feet and stride are areas of concern. Johnson lacks burst and cannot pull away from defenders or gain separation at a functional level. Furthermore, Johnson doesn’t transition to a runner quickly, which means he cannot capitalize on his size in the run after the catch. Despite his impressive size, he doesn’t possess elite playing strength and needs to be developed as a blocker. His route tree is also abysmal, as his stiff hips limit his route running ceiling. He often plays too high in his pads, leading his torso to overcommit on breaks.
An NFL team is likely to notice the exceptional physical abilities of Theo Johnson and take a chance on him as a developmental tight end. With proper NFL coaching and development, he has the potential to become an asset in the ground game. However, at best, he may only function as a complement to the offensive line and is unlikely to become a top receiving football tight end.
Main Image: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
