Tag: Theo Johnson

Theo Johnson drafted by Giants in fourth round of 2024 NFL draft

Penn State tight end Theo Johnson is heading to the New York Giants as a fourth round pick!

The New York Giants needed a tight end, and now they have one. The Giants drafted Penn State tight end [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] with the 107th overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft, the seventh pick of the fourth round.

Johnson committed to Penn State in the Class of 2020 over offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Georgia, and Alabama. The four-star recruit from Manitoba, Canada was selected to play in the 2020 Under Armour All-America Game.

At Penn State, Johnson was a pairing with Brenton Strange, who was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2023 NFL draft, and Tyler Warren, who is expected to be among the top tight end draft prospects in 2025. Johnson completed his four years with Penn State accounting for 77 receptions and 938 yards and 12 touchdowns. Johnson scored 7 of his career touchdowns during the 2023 season.

Catch all of the latest updates from the NFL draft with USA TODAY’s live draft tracker. For a look at each Penn State draft prospect, be sure to check out our Penn State NFL draft tracker.

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2024 NFL draft: Giants select TE Theo Johnson in Round 4

With the No. 107 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the New York Giants select Penn State tight end Theo Johnson.

With the 107th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft, the New York Giants have selected Penn State tight end Theo Johnson.

With the uncertainty surrounding Darren Waller and the potential that he retires, the Giants played it safe and grabbed one of the best tight ends still on the board.

The 6-foot-6, 260-pound Johnson met with the Giants during the pre-draft process and earned a wildly impressive relative athletic score (RAS) of 9.93, which was ninth-best among tight ends since 1987.

Despite his athleticism, there are limitations to Johnson’s game. He’s still somewhat raw and in need of development, particularly as a run blocker (should be better for his size), but will provide a big target for quarterback Daniel Jones. His ability to haul in contested catches will also be a welcomed addition for the Giants.

It’s unlikely Johnson will step in as a Day 1 starter even in the event Waller retires but with the right coaching, he can develop into a quality tight end over time. Expectations are that he will eventually be more productive in the NFL than he was in college.

In 44 career games at PSU, Johnson hauled in 77 receptions for 938 yards and 12 touchdowns. He earned an overall grade of 62.5 courtesy of Pro Football Focus in 2023.

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Best Penn State players still available on Day 3 of NFL draft according to ESPN

Penn State’s Curtis Jacobs and Theo Johnson some of the best available at their positions on the final day of the 2024 NFL draft.

Penn State was happy to see four members of its football family be selected by NFL franchises in the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL draft, but they are hoping to see more go on the final day of the draft on Saturday. Any NFL franchise looking to add a linebacker to the roster will have a few solid options to choose from beginning in the fourth round, including Penn State’s [autotag]Curtis Jacobs[/autotag].

Jacobs was a standout performer for Penn State and is ranked as the third-best linebacker still on the board according to ESPN’s ranking of best available players going into Day 3 of the draft. He is also among the top 25 best players available when the draft resumes with the no. 24 ranking.

North Carolina’s Cedric Gray is the top linebacker available according to ESPN’s ranking. Clemson’s Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is the second-best available linebacker before Jacobs according to the same ranking. All three players figure to make some NFL franchise very happy with the bargain they will seemingly be getting.

Theo Johnson among best TEs still available

Penn State tight end [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] was hoping to go somewhere in the second or third rounds of the draft, but his wait will drag into Day 3 as well. Johnson is ranked as the fifth-best tight end still available with four rounds remaining, so he still has a very good chance of being drafted.

Ja’Tavion Sanders of Texas, Cade Stover of Ohio State, Tanner McLachlan of Arizona, and Jared Wiley of TCU are all ranked ahead of Johnson at the tight end position.

Hunter Nourzad watch is also on

Penn State has already had two offensive linemen drafted in the 2024 NFL draft. Olu Fashanu was a first-round pick of the New York Jets and Caedan Wallace went to the New England Patriots in the third round. But Penn State could get one more offensive lineman drafted with center [autotag]Hunter Nourzad[/autotag] lingering on the board on Day 3.

ESPN ranks Nourzad as the third-best center available. Only Georgia’s Sedrick Van Pran-Granger and Wisconsin’s Tanor Bortolini are ranked ahead of him.

Cornerbacks look like long shots?

Penn State still has a few cornerbacks sitting and waiting for a call from the NFL going into the final day of the draft. [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag], [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag], and [autotag]Johnny Dixon[/autotag] are all still available, but all three are ranked between no. 21 and no. 25 at their position among best players available according to ESPN.

While Hardy and Dixon were always expected to be later round picks at best, the fall of King from a potential first-round draft pick a year ago is unfortunate to watch develop. If any player may have benefitted the most by returning for another season at Penn State, it is looking like it would have been King.

But maybe somebody is going to take a shot at King and capitalize on a player with a potential chip on his shoulder. If not, he will be one player to watch during the undrafted free agent frenzy following the draft.

Catch all of the latest updates from the NFL draft with USA TODAY’s live draft tracker. For a look at each Penn State draft prospect, be sure to check out our Penn State NFL draft tracker.

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Where PFF ranks Penn State’s top 2024 NFL draft prospects

How does PFF rank Penn State’s draft prospects just before the 2024 NFL draft?

The 2024 NFL draft is approaching and the final player rankings are rolling out before the first round gets underway. Pro Football Focus unveiled its final big board for the 2024 NFL draft, and a couple of Penn State players

Offensive tackle [autotag]Olu Fashanu[/autotag] remains Penn State’s top draft prospect, and PFF has him ranked in the top 20 overall. Fashanu is ranked no. 17 in the PFF player rankings, but he is not the top offensive tackle on the board according to the rankings. Fashanu is the fourth offensive tackle on PFF’s big board.

Notre Dame’s Joe Alt (no. 5 overall), Oregon State’s Taliese Guaga, and Washington’s Troy Fautanu (no. 15) are all ranked ahead of Fashanu at the position. Fashanu was once considered a near-lock to be the top offensive tackle taken in the 2024 NFL draft, but the PFF big board suggests a few players at the same position will have a shot to go ahead of him. But, it is likely PFF still considers Fashanu a first-round talent with a top-20 player ranking. Of course, that all depends on how many teams need an offensive tackle in the first round. Fortunately, offensive tackle is a pretty important position.

Penn State edge rushers [autotag]Adisa Isaac[/autotag] (no. 38) and [autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag] (no. 40) are the next highest-ranked Penn State players on the big board according to PFF. Isaac appears to be trending in a positive direction according to PFF following his results and performance this offseason, while Robinson’s stock may have dipped a slight bit. PFF did give Robinson a higher regular season grade in its evaluation than Issac received.

Center [autotag]Hunter Nourzad[/autotag] received the no. 111 ranking from the PFF big board, making him a potentially draftable asset. Tight end [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] is ranked no. 135. Offensive tackle [autotag]Caedan Wallace[/autotag] come sin at no. 142 overall.

[autotag]Kalen King[/autotag], once viewed by draft analysts as a potential first-round pick and arguably the top cornerback in the draft pool, has seen the biggest slide in his overall draft stock. PFF currently ranks King at no. 177 overall, a far cry from his previous draft outlook. [autotag]Johnny Dixon[/autotag] makes an appearance at no. 192. Linebacker [autotag]Curtis Jacobs[/autotag] is ranked no. 207, and could be a potential bargain at that ranking for some NFL team. Speedy cornerback [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag] is ranked no. 251 on the PFF big board.

See the full PFF big board to see how the draft pros[ects stack up before the 2024 NFL draft.

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Broncos spoke with TE Theo Johnson at the NFL combine

The Broncos had an informal meeting with Penn State tight end Theo Johnson at the NFL combine. He’s projected to be a fourth-round pick.

The Denver Broncos had an informal meeting with Penn State’s Theo Johnson at the NFL combine in February, the tight end confirmed during his media availability in Indianapolis.

Johnson (6-6, 259 pounds) was among the National team tight ends who were coached by Broncos quality control coach Logan Kilgore at the Senior Bowl. After competing in Mobile, Johnson was invited to the combine. He ran a 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds and 20-yard shuttle in 4.19 seconds at the combine.

Johnson spent four years at PSU, hauling in 77 receptions for 938 yards and 12 touchdowns in 44 games. He posted career highs in catches (34), receiving yards (341) and touchdowns (seven) last season.

Johnson is projected to be a fourth-round pick later this month. The Broncos currently hold pick No. 121 in the fourth round and Johnson might be a potential target at that spot.

Denver re-signed Adam Trautman during free agency and Greg Dulcich is healthy going into the offseason program, but the team does not have much tight end depth behind them.

The 2024 NFL draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27.

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2024 NFL draft: Giants to meet with DB Andru Phillips, TE Theo Johnson

The New York Giants will reportedly meet with Kentucky DB Andru Phillips and Penn State TE Theo Johnson ahead of the 2024 NFL draft.

The 2024 NFL draft is just around the corner and the New York Giants will wrap up their top 30 visits over the next two weeks.

Their most publicized meetings have come with the draft’s top quarterbacks and wide receivers, but they haven’t been that limited in scope. General manager Joe Schoen has also sat down with several edge rushers and at least one defensive tackle.

In the coming days, the Giants will also reportedly meet with a few cornerbacks and a tight end.

Josh Edwards of CBS Sports reports that the Giants have an April meeting scheduled with Kentucky defensive back Andru Phillips.

The 23-year-old Phillips earned a relative athletic score (RAS) of 8.13 and is projected to go in the mid-rounds. NFL Network draft analyst Lance Zierlein views him as a developmental talent.

Phillips’ tape features a high number of both completions and drops that should have been completions, but that could change in a different scheme and with additional experience. He’s still green, with just two years of real game experience, and often played too loose in Kentucky’s zone cover schemes. Phillips lacks the anticipation to contest catches at a high enough rate from zone but does have the athleticism to play more man coverage, with the tools to stay sticky on routes. He’s an ardent run supporter with excellent toughness but needs to finish tackles at a higher rate. Scheme fit might be critical, along with proving he can play from the slot, but his best football could be ahead of him.

In addition to Phillips, the Giants are also slated to meet with (or have already met with) Penn State tight end Theo Johnson, reports Sports Illustrated.

Johnson plans to work out in State College for a few weeks before the NFL Draft and make some targeted team visits. He said he’ll meet with the Seattle Seahawks, and the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens plan to schedule visits as well.

The 23-year-old Johnson earned a wildly impressive RAS score of 9.99 and is also projected to be taken in the mid-rounds. However, Zierlein is concerned with his several flaws.

Highly recruited out of high school, Johnson looks the part with an above-average frame and traits. 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.

The Giants have needs at both cornerback and tight end (assuming Darren Waller retires), so expect to see other prospect visits over the next two weeks.

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Seahawks to host Penn State TE Theo Johnson for top-30 visit

Tight end is one of several positions that should be on the Seahawks’ to-do list going into the 2024 NFL draft.

Tight end is one of several positions that should be on the Seahawks’ to-do list going into the 2024 NFL draft. So far the team has re-signed Noah Fant and added Pharaoh Brown, but they have also lost Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson, making this a roster need, if not a major one.

One name to watch is Theo Johnson from Penn State, who has a top-30 visit with Seattle coming up.

Johnson (6-foot-6, 259 pounds) fits what the Seahawks need at the position right now, which is another pass-catching option. Over the last two seasons he totaled 54 catches, 669 yards and 11 touchdowns. Here’s the highlight reel.

At the Scouting Combine, Johnson put together a very impressive athletic profile. He posted a 4.57 second 40-yard dash, a 39.5″ vertical, a 10’5″ broad jump and a 4.19 second 20-yard shuttle time.

Johnson is projected to come off the board in the fourth round.

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Best photos of NFL draft tight end prospect Theo Johnson from Penn State

Here are some of the best photos of NFL draft hopeful Theo Johnson during his time with Penn State.

Penn State, perhaps under the radar for the past few years, has produced some talented NFL-ready tight ends. In fact, last season, the Nittany Lions led the nation in touchdowns caught by tight ends with 16. [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] had seven touchdown grabs and, after an impressive draft process, looks primed to be within the first three rounds of this month’s NFL draft.

Johnson earned All-Big Ten honorable mentions following the 2023 season and was named to the Mackey Award watchlist for the best tight end in the country. Johnson started all 13 games for the Nittany Lions last year and finished with 34 catches for 341 yards and seven touchdowns

Here is a look at one of Penn State’s NFL draft hopefuls during his college career in Happy Valley.

Browns 2024 NFL draft profile: Penn State tight end Theo Johnson

Johnson would be a fun selection for the Browns

After the departure of Harrison Bryant, could Penn State’s Theo Johnson be the ideal pick for the Cleveland Browns in the 2024 NFL draft?

There isn’t anything at the tight end position after David Njoku currently on the Browns roster. Though this class of tight ends isn’t super deep there are more than a few intriguing options for Andrew Berry to add to this roster.

One of the top options for me is Theo Johnson from Penn State, who lacks college production but has so much potential. Johnson showed that his lack of production wasn’t because of a lack of talent as he was had some of the best athletic testing at the position we have ever seen.

He scored a 9.99 on the relative athletic score scale with a 4.57 40-yard dash and 39.5-inch vertical. You see glimpses of his athleticism on tape, but if you can develop him as a route runner, you could have a guy with tight-end one potential.

Johnson is a good blocker, and with his size at 6-foot-6 with 33″ arms, that aspect of his game will translate at the next level. He is great off the line of scrimmage, getting into his routes and pairing it with his large catch radius. You have a reliable passing option, especially in the red zone and other short-yardage situations.

Last season, Johnson only had 34 receptions, but seven of them were for touchdowns. He can play as an in-line tight end, but he has the skill set to line up in the slot and out wide as well. A player of this much upside is worth a flyer in the draft’s middle rounds.

Four Penn State players among consensus top 100 NFL prospects

NFL draft experts agree that these four Penn State players are among the top 100 in the 2024 NFL draft.

As the 2024 NFL draft draws ever closer, the range that each prospect could go in becomes clearer. Teams are finalizing their boards, media members have gathered as much intel as they possibly can, and draft analysts put the finishing touches on how they view the class as a whole.

For Penn State’s bevy of potential draft picks, that means doing everything they can to stand out in what seems to be a very talented class this season. Four Nittany Lions have done just that, as NFL Mock Draft Database has tackle [autotag]Olu Fashanu[/autotag], edge rusher [autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag], tight end [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag], and edge rusher [autotag]Adisa Isaac[/autotag] in their consensus top 100 players.

The list is based on hundreds of mocks and big boards from many publications, so it’s a good way to see how each player is viewed by the media. Fashanu is ranked 14th overall, a drop off from his high ranking of 3rd. That drop is less about him and more about the rise of others, but he is no longer viewed as a potential top-five pick.

Robinson checks in at 27th, also a decline from his peak ranking of 16th. I imagine his elite speed and get-off made some analysts ignore some of his weaknesses early on, but he is still firmly in first-round consideration. Isaac has the largest gap between his current ranking and his peak, 78th and 54th respectively. Last but not least, Johnson has also seen a drop in ranking from his high point, sitting at 95th with a peak of 80th.

Overall, it seems the media has cooled on all of Penn State’s top prospects. It’s important to remember that most players end up lower than where they peaked by this point in the draft process, however. The consensus board also has never been about truly predicting how NFL teams view each player, but to simply sum up how the general public views them.

In the case of Penn State’s prospects, I think they will line up pretty closely to how the NFL will value them. Fashanu and Robinson are too talented to fall far from their projections. Isaac is a very sound, high-floor guy that teams can easily talk themselves into on day 2. Johnson is the athletic wild card that teams will convince themselves has untapped potential. I doubt any of them make it past the second day of the draft.