The New York Giants have selected former Penn State TE Theo Johnson in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Johnson spent four seasons in Happy Valley, appearing in 44 games (29 starts). He hauled in 77 receptions for 938 yards and 12 touchdowns. Johnson broke out in 2022, tallying 20 catches for 328 yards and a score. As a senior this past season, he amassed a career-high 34 receptions for 341 yards and seven touchdowns. Johnson’s seven scores are tied for third in a single season among Penn State tight ends.
The 6-foot-6, 259-pounder was a Reese’s Senior Bowl standout, earning a practice player-of-the-week award for the National Team. Johnson’s athleticism was on full display at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, as he clocked a 4.57 in the 40-yard dash. He scored a 9.93 out of a possible 10.0 Relative Athletic Score, which ranks ninth out of 1,199 TE prospects from 1987 to 2024.
Johnson played high school football for Holy Names in Windsor, Pennsylvania, where he was a four-star prospect. He ranked as the No. 74 overall prospect and No. 4 tight end in the 2020 class, according to the On3 Industry Rating, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Theo Johnson
Lance Zierlein of NFL Network had Johnson as his fourth-ranked tight end prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft with a 6.15 prospect grade.
“Highly recruited out of high school, Johnson looks the part with an above-average frame and traits,” Zierlein wrote. “While teams might want to place him in an elevated silo for consideration, they might not find the consistency or high number of flashes on tape that they were expecting. Johnson’s run blocking is below average for his size. And adopting a glass-eating mentality in conjunction with technique work could help him improve in that area.
“He’ll make contested catches and is adequate against man coverage, but he lacks dynamic qualities as a pass catcher. Traits will work in his favor. But there is work to be done to become anything more than an average backup.”
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