2020 NFL Draft Profile: Tyler Johnson

One of the most productive wide receivers in college football over the last two seasons, Tyler Johnson should come off of the board in the middle rounds of the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft. Not overly explosive, Johnson has enough size and football intelligence that he can still thrive in the NFL in the right situation.

Tyler Johnson Draft Profile

College: Minnesota
Class: Sr.
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 205

Strong Points

Johnson is a savvy receiver with good size and enough explosiveness to pose problems. He’s a natural as a route runner, consistently getting a clean release against the jam and stemming his routes effectively. He has excellent body control and a bit more twitch than you’d expect for the body type, allowing him to create separation on the short and intermediate levels. His hands are excellent, and he’ll consistently snatch the ball away from his body with an impressive catch radius. He does a nice job tracking and adjusting to the ball downfield.

Weak Points

His long speed is average, and while he has good size, he’s not overly physical at the catch point and relies more on creating separation through nuanced route running than using his frame to wall off defensive backs. He was a big-play threat in college, but that might not translate to the pros.

Summary

There’s a lot of Jordan Matthews here — for better (understanding the position’s nuances) and worse (lack of explosiveness). He might fit as a big slot receiver and safety blanket.

Final Grade: 3rd/4th round

(Top photo by Eric Miller, courtesy of gophersports.com)