The New York Giants selected Penn State tight end Theo Johnson with the 107th pick.
The Athletic NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler on Johnson: A three-year starter at Penn State, Johnson was a versatile tight end in former offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich's RPO-based scheme, splitting his time between inline (47.9 percent), slot (38.8 percent) and wide (9.8 percent).
A wide receiver in high school in Canada, he faced a steep transition moving to tight end at State College and didn't have a 100-yard receiving performance in 45 college games (and reached 75 yards just once). But his production steadily climbed each season, and he led the Nittany Lions in touchdown grabs in 2023.
Johnson is quick off the ball and builds his speed downfield, giving his quarterback a big target with his size, strong hands, and athletic catch radius. As a blocker, he doesn't embarrass himself but needs to better understand leverage and develop more of a glass-chewing mentality.
Overall, Johnson has inconsistent college tape and production, but he has A-plus measurements and smooth athletic tools that could allow him to continue developing and become a better pro than college player.
Although he is a work in progress, he is a worthy long-term investment for an NFL team.
The Athletic NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler on Johnson: A three-year starter at Penn State, Johnson was a versatile tight end in former offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich's RPO-based scheme, splitting his time between inline (47.9 percent), slot (38.8 percent) and wide (9.8 percent).
A wide receiver in high school in Canada, he faced a steep transition moving to tight end at State College and didn't have a 100-yard receiving performance in 45 college games (and reached 75 yards just once). But his production steadily climbed each season, and he led the Nittany Lions in touchdown grabs in 2023.
Johnson is quick off the ball and builds his speed downfield, giving his quarterback a big target with his size, strong hands, and athletic catch radius. As a blocker, he doesn't embarrass himself but needs to better understand leverage and develop more of a glass-chewing mentality.
Overall, Johnson has inconsistent college tape and production, but he has A-plus measurements and smooth athletic tools that could allow him to continue developing and become a better pro than college player.
Although he is a work in progress, he is a worthy long-term investment for an NFL team.