'Why Quentin Johnston?'
Height & Weight
6'3 -- 208lbs
Ascension grade
Pro-bowl ceiling
58.36 -- WR #2
High-end traits (80th percentile & up)
Top-end speed
Acceleration capabilities
Positional versatility
Post-catch skill set
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Low-end traits (30th percentile & down)
Technical nuance
Catch versatility
Level two catch concentration
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Stylistic comparison
Brandon Aiyuk meshed with Tee Higgins
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Projected role comparison
Primary X receiver with high target share (A.J Brown)
What stood out the most when I first saw Quentin Johnston as a Freshman at TCU was his combination of abruptness & fluidity for someone of his height.
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Rare to see someone at 6'3 + that abrupt.
Extensive usage on delayed crossers when watching his 22’ tape. His ability to make the first defender miss attributes to his production here.
When he gets to the league, this will be a staple in his early career tree.
Exceptionally difficult to bring down with the ball in his hands.
Continually fights for extra yards and can make defensive backs miss in tight areas - play strength is at a much higher level than his frame would let on.
Something I am looking forward to with Johnston is taking his post-catch qualities and using them in-route.
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He has the decelerative capabilities and dramatic movement style to develop into a high-level separator with time.
Doesn't have a broad toolbox of releases, but has the physical qualities to cause defensive backs problems as he gains experience.
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Julius Brent #23 is a good corner and works to jam his inside shoulder - notice how Johnston works lower limb suddenness & pairs that with a swat mechanism to negate Brent and get him off balance.
Again, it's the variety of post-catch solutions with Johnston at 6'4 215lbs that will have NFL evaluators intrigued around pick ten.
Add in the ability to re-accelerate, and you have yourself an incredibly dextrous YAC option.
Watch the subtle hitch step at the 26 yard line to get the defender to change speeds and alter momentum.
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21.0 mph on this play.
Had the highest graded game of his career here and it also ended up being the game where Johnston had the most slot opportunities.
His movement skills, size, and play speed make him a nightmare to cover in the slot - hoping an NFL organization moves him around.
Personally, I would like to see him deployed as an inside receiver to take advantage of this more often.
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You're worried about him as a vertical threat - you're worried about him after the catch.
As a traditional deep threat, his length hurts safeties as they have to make a decision whether to play his vertical stem or play the potential break point.
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Johnston is more comfortable catching with his body and using a shielding technique. Have to add depth here to accentuate his large catch radius.
Let's the ball come into his body, but you continually see the strength he has in traffic.
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In high-leverage situations, he comes through.
Johnston's above-the-rim skill set is interesting, because he doesn't use his length as much as he should at the catch point.
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Wiry strong, and can overwhelm defensive backs at times in contested catch situations.
As a separator, Johnston can add to his toolbox as his career progresses, more nuance.
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Right now, he wins with suddenness & his capabilities as an accelerator which can be alarming to defensive backs because of his length.
We see his abruptness and ability to cause problems for defensive backs due to his easily he can come out of breaks.
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Timing routes may be an issue early on in his career, but again, Johnston has the overarching capabilities to be a high-end receiver due to how well he decelerates.
Expectations & Range of outcomes
Johnston has the chance to become a premier outside threat in the league. Has the length, movement skill, and play speed to do it. However, the ceiling is just as eye-opening as the floor.
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Probably has the widest range of outcomes in this cycle. Personally, I wouldn't be shocked if he is either a A.J. Brown-type playmaker in terms of role or more of a situational receiver like Chase Claypool.
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I do expect him to end up closer to the A.J. Brown side of things, and I am anticipating him being a worthwhile top-six selection in dynasty leagues.
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YouTube Video on what makes Johnston a risky prospect.