A young player’s growth from Year 1 to Year 2 is always a fascinating sight. Taking what he has improved on in the off-season and finally getting a chance to put it on the field during minicamps, OTA’s, training camp and the preseason is what football life is all about . With the absence of off-season activities due to to Covid-19, there will be less time to make an impression on the coaching staff. Something that should bring a sense of urgency to all of the players on the roster especially the bubble players.
WR Jon’Vea Johnson had a good chance at making the 53-man roster last year after a decent training camp. With Amari Copper sitting out practices, he even earned some time with the first team. He struggled with drops and consistency throughout the preseason however, and then suffered a shoulder injury in his final preseason game and was placed on injured reserve.
Rewind
Johnson was a three-star prospect in high school. He attended West Lake Leadership Academy and committed to the University of Toledo where he collected 122 receptions, 2223 receiving yards, and 24 touchdowns across his collegiate career. He went undrafted in the 2019 process then was signed by the Dallas Cowboys on April 30, 2019.
Johnson was viewed by most as a late-round receiver or a guy who could go undrafted. Dane Brugler of The Athletic had him ranked as his 34th best receiver out of 52 with a 6th-to-7th-round grade.
Scouting Report
Johnson is listed at 6-foot, 192 pounds and showed the ability to gear down quickly, drop his hips and get out of his breaks quickly. He showed he was capable at catching the ball away from his body.
Johnson has unique speed defenders must respect, running a 4.38 40-yard dash at his Toledo Pro Day.
It doesn’t take Johnson long to reach top speed, but he will need to improve his route tempo. He must also work on the nuances of his route running. He did show he could create some separation at the top of his routes using speed to push defenders off and break into his route and he will even slightly push off to create separation.
Johnson flashed these traits at the outset of training camp last year with his unique ability to get behind the defense and make plays downfield. He is a smaller receiver who offers a different skill set than the others on the roster as it is predicated on winning with his speed.
Film Study: Vs Northern Illinois
2020 Outlook
Johnson has a good chance to make this roster this year as the fourth or fifth receiver, bringing a different size and skill set to a receiving core where the top three receivers are 6-foot-1 or taller.
Johnson has the leg up on the UDFA rookies and should be able to learn from his mistakes that he made last year to push for a roster spot. Johnson maybe the most naturally talented receiver on the roster not name Gallup, Cooper, or Lamb.
He is also the only receiver with a unique trait that separates him from the bunch. Johnson will surely get opportunities to contribute on special teams as returner which should give him more opportunities to show off his unique speed, but also as a gunner. After the top three receivers it is an open competition as to who will round out the receiver depth chart but Johnson clearly has one of the better chances out of the group to make the roster.
This is part of our Countdown to the Regular Season player profile countdown. With 81 days remaining until the NFL’s first game, up next is wide receiver Jon’Vea Johnson.
| Antwaun Woods | Tyrone Crawford | Trysten Hill | Jalen Jelks |
| Dontari Poe | Randy Gregory | Gerald McCoy | Dorance Armstrong |
| L.P. Ladouceur | DeMarcus Lawrence | Blake Jarwin | CeeDee Lamb |
| Cole Hikutini | Dalton Schultz | Noah Brown | Sean McKeon |
| Ventell Bryant |
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