2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Johnny Wilson

Strengths

• Rare frame with elite size and length for the position
• Long striding speed once he opens up his gargantuan strides
• Massive catch radius with a "go up and get it" attitude
• Surprising foot speed with nifty releases to beat press
• Impressive agility and flashes of quick accelerator for his size
• Potential to be a difference-making blocker at wide receiver
• Tough to bring down
• Uses high IQ to strategically attack defensive backs mentally and physically
• Understands the big picture of play concepts
• Experience playing from multiple alignments

Weaknesses

• Long speed is all build-up
• Not explosive enough to win routes quickly in the NFL
• Struggles to separate from more physical and athletically gifted CBs
• Too slow to effectively eat space vs. off-coverage
• Will need to perfect his release package and be more consistent with it to succeed vs. off-coverage
• Struggles to navigate through congested areas
• Value is scheme-specific
• Highly inconsistent hands, dropped 12.8% of all catchable targets in college career (per PFF)
• Doesn't haul in acrobatic efforts as often as expected
• Little special teams experience

Final Thoughts and Bears Fit for Johnny Wilson

Wilson currently has a top-100 grade from our team, but I suggest targeting him in the fourth or fifth round. He possesses some dominant traits that the Florida State offense leaned on heavily. However, I question whether those traits will shine brighter than the glaring issues I see on tape.

Wilson shows good footwork and physicality against press coverage. He can stack coverage downfield and uses quick feet and physicality to win comeback routes at the stem. His vertical route tree can win as long as he isn't giving the corner across from him a head start (off-coverage).

When the defender plays with a larger cushion, Wilson has limited answers. He isn't smooth enough through traffic or fast enough to outrun linebackers and attack the middle of the field. Additionally, Wilson has more drops on his tape than you want to see from a player who will need to win contested catch situations.

Wilson could be valuable as a project player in the right offense. If he's used in a big slot role, like Darren Waller or Marques Colston, his blocking can be an asset as a tight-end-sized threat from a wide receiver alignment. But a lot must go right to justify using a Day 2 pick on that project, especially because he doesn't have any special teams experience.

For the Chicago Bears, Wilson could be worth adding to the roster on Day 3. New offensive coordinator Shane Waldron is the king of 12 and 13 personnel. And while Wilson isn't a tight end, he could be used as a gadget player in those formations. Wilson might need to add special teams to his resume to be worth the roster spot, but with the right plan in place, he could become a valuable contributor to an offense that prefers heavy formations. But beware that history says wide receiver prospects of this size are heavily boom-or-bust.

Pro Comp: Brandon Coleman