Quentin Johnston scouting report: TCU WR is the largest boom-or-bust receiver within the 2023 NFL Draft

TCU’s run to the Nationwide Championship Recreation was nothing wanting magical, and far was as a result of efficiency of standout broad receiver Quentin Johnston. Being named a first-team All-Huge 12 choice in each 2021 and 2022, Johnston is coming off a season through which he caught 60 passes for 1,069 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Johnston is on a trajectory to do one thing particular within the NFL, however is he actually one of many elite receivers on this draft class? It’s time to discover out.

Causes to purchase in to Quentin Johnston

The very first thing that pops out with Johnston is his athleticism. Johnston does a superb job utilizing his mixture of dimension and pace to get downfield and win on 50/50 balls. He possesses excellent physique management, leaping over and round defenders to make catches with nonetheless sustaining stability and staying on his toes to make one thing occur after the catch. This true acrobatic potential can be a profit on third downs, as Johnston does an ideal job of maintaining his toes in bounds and sustaining ahead momentum to maneuver the chains on passes close to the road to realize.

One other intriguing side of Johnston’s sport is his route-running potential. Whereas it is probably not on the extent of the opposite first-round receivers on this draft (i.e. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zay Flowers, Jordan Addison), his agility and elusiveness is reasonably spectacular for a receiver his dimension. He ran a considerably restricted route tree in TCU’s offense, however his cuts have been usually clear and fast for an enormous receiver.

Different intriguing traits embrace a big catch radius, top-notch ball abilities, and phenomenal consciousness. Johnston at all times appears to concentrate on the present state of affairs, and his accuracy in judgment of the ball when within the air permits him to readjust on the soccer and put his physique in place to make a catch.

Causes for concern with Quentin Johnston

Johnston might not have a bunch of totally different points, however the few points he has are reasonably prevalent. Essentially the most talked about subject with Quentin is his fingers. He struggled with drops all through his collegiate profession, lots of that are resulting from poor focus. He usually turns his head upfield earlier than securing the catch, and his hand positioning is the slightest bit off at instances. Johnston additionally wants to chop again on the physique catches and belief his fingers extra.

One other concern I’ve with Johnston is his lack of pace initially of his route. He doesn’t have an ideal first step off the road, and it generally takes him a pair steps to actually speed up. I’m additionally not impressed along with his physicality as a run blocker. A receiver along with his dimension ought to be capable of win the battle for leverage and acquire management of a defender reasonably simply, however he lacks deception and stability as a blocker on the boundary.

Quentin Johnston’s spotlight tape

2023 NFL Mix outcomes for Quentin Johnston

Whereas Johnston didn’t take part in all of the drills on the mix, he made certain to impress in what he did take part in. Measuring in at 6’3, 208 lbs, with 33 5/8-inch arms and 9 5/8-inch fingers, Johnston recorded a 40 1/2-inch vertical and a 134-inch broad leap. He didn’t run the 40, however contemplating how usually he pulls away from defenders down the sector on tape, pace was not a significant concern for him.

What others are saying about Quentin Johnston

Here’s what Mel Kiper needed to say about Johnston in a January scouting report:

I believed Johnston was going to have a large season, however then he had simply 12 catches for 114 yards and no scores in his first 4 video games. After that sluggish begin, nonetheless, he was stellar. He completed the season with 60 catches for 1,069 yards and 6 scores. He towers over defenders and runs by way of them — he’s super after the catch. As I wrote in October, Johnston wins contested leap balls with ease and has a uncommon size and pace mixture. He torched Michigan within the School Soccer Playoff semifinals with six catches for 163 yards and this lengthy landing.

Finally, I see Johnston as one of many larger boom-or-bust prospects on the broad receiver place. Nevertheless, the danger could also be value it, as his bodily skills are among the many finest within the class. If he can certain up his fingers and enhance his focus, he might be one of many actually elite receivers within the league.