Can Johnson weasel his way into an NFL opportunity?
With his sights set on the NFL, Northwestern’s leading receiver from last season in yards, catches and receiving touchdowns is one of a handful of ex-Northwestern players hoping to be drafted this weekend.
Playing his final season of college ball with the ‘Cats, Johnson’s collegiate experience should be a major selling point for NFL teams. With Vanderbilt from 2018 to 2021, Johnson amassed 124 catches for 1,233 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Commodores over four seasons. His time at Arizona State in 2022 saw the journeyman only haul in 10 passes for 84 yards, but a resurgence at Northwestern in 2023 saw Johnson put up 54 catches for a career-high 715 yards and six receiving touchdowns.
Let’s dive into what NFL teams will see when scouting the Wildcats’ receiver.
Projection: Undrafted Free Agent
With a loaded wide receiver draft, Johnson’s odds of being drafted are pretty low. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked Johnson as the 73rd receiver in the draft class. That feels low, especially after Johnson showcased his ability to take over football games during Northwestern’s 2023 campaign.
Against Illinois at the end of November, Johnson hauled in seven catches for 124 yards and a touchdown — one game with a touchdown in a streak of five to end the season. With a knack for making plays, although Johnson is unlikely to hear his name in the 257 picks called out, NFL teams would be silly to not give the college journeyman a chance in training camp.
Battle-tested with six years of collegiate experience, Johnson’s competed at the highest level in the SEC, PAC-12 and Big Ten. Not only is experience valuable but learning how to compete through struggles has been a major takeaway of Johnson’s journey.
“Going to Arizona State — obviously not having the year I wanted — I think that was really important for me to learn resiliency, to learn that in this game nothing is given to you and I’m going to have to earn everything I’ve got,” Johnson said at his Northwestern Pro Day in March.
That mindset could be the key that gives Johnson an edge as he battles to earn an NFL opportunity.
Strengths
Listed at 6-foot-0 and 205 pounds, Johnson plays bigger than his frame. An effective red-zone threat, Johnson’s length and ability to control his body in the air was a huge part of his game at Northwestern. With his physical traits, he’s also a solid run blocker, willing to put his body into the run game.
An effective route runner, Johnson has the ability to win both in-between and outside the hash marks. Whether he’s lined up in the slot or outside, Johnson can make contested catches and move the chains. With sure hands, he utilizes his length and works through contact well, making him a dependable receiver in tight spaces.
Overall, Johnson’s biggest strength is his savviness as a pass catcher, using his skillsets to put up touchdowns and find open spaces against zone defenses. Paired with his experience bouncing around three different college programs, Johnson’s exposure to high-level competition is another aspect he brings to the table.
Weaknesses
Although Johnson has the skill set to win in a multitude of ways, speed is not one of them. Running a 4.59 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, Johnson’s lack of burst is concerning for a receiver trying to find an in at the next level.
Below average as an accelerator and lacking high-end speed, Johnson might have trouble trying to attack NFL corners. He’s also not great after the catch in terms of extending plays for big gains. He may break a tackle or two but doesn’t necessarily turn a ten-yard slant into a house call.
Although he’s comfortable running a plethora of routes, Johnson isn’t exactly twitchy or snappy either. Unable to easily break away from corners could be a weakness against stickier NFL coverage.
He is also on the older side. Graduating high school in 2018, Johnson left high school in the same class as NFL receivers like Ja’Marr Chase, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jaylen Waddle who have all made names for themselves at the next level.