Theo Johnson – Page 3 – Syndication Server

Penn State NFL draft prospect stock watch: Daequan Hardy

Penn State cornerback Daequan Hardy may be hurt by a down NFL combine performance overall.

Penn State has gained a reputation in recent years for having some of the most explosive athletes to enter the draft each year. It started with Saquon Barkley back in 2018 and has been a theme ever since, with guys like Mike Gesecki, Micah Parsons, and Odafe Oweh just to name a few.

This year is no different, with defensive end [autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag] and tight end [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] putting up historic numbers at the NFL combine. They were not the only Nittany Lions who showed off their athleticism, however.

Cornerback [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag] was one of the unsung heroes of Penn State’s defense in 2023, cementing himself as a legit NFL prospect from the slot. His toughness and playmaking ability was evident on film, and it extended to special teams as well. He returned two punts in one game against UMASS, and he will have return value at the next level with his explosiveness.

Daequan Hardy is a CB prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored an unofficial 8.51 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 333 out of 2222 CB from 1987 to 2024.

Splits Projectedhttps://t.co/miG5j73aDA pic.twitter.com/YavZl4s6kt

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 1, 2024

His vertical was tied for first at the combine with Boston College corner Elijah Jones, which should help him overcome his smaller frame. His speed was no surprise watching him on film, both when exploding into ball carriers and as a return man. He is likely limited to being just a slot corner in the NFL, which will limit his upside in the eyes of NFL teams.

Even though more and more defenses have three corners on the field the majority of the time, slot corners are still undervalued. While the top outside corners are making north of $20 million a year, the top slot corners are just over $10 million. Many teams look to the draft for a cheap way to address slot defender, and Hardy fits that bill.

Right now, he is considered an undrafted player based on NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus rankings. I can’t imagine his stock has fallen that far after an impressive combine. NFL teams will at least draft him for special teams value even if they aren’t sold on his defensive potential.

Stock: Down

Penn State NFL draft prospect stock watch: Theo Johnson

Penn State’s Theo Johnson has become one of the rising tight ends ahead of the NFL draft.

Every year, several NFL draft prospects show up to the NFL combine in Indianapolis and surprise everyone with historic performances. Sometimes, those players turn out to be hidden gems that just need the spotlight to reveal them. Other times, they turn out to be fool’s gold. Regardless, fans are always enamored with these so-called “combine warriors”, and one of them happens to be a former Nittany Lion.

Tight end [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] had a successful career at Penn State, but his numbers don’t jump off the page by any means. 938 career yards and 12 touchdowns in four seasons is roughly the same production Georgia’s Brock Bowers managed in his freshman season alone, for example. They had entirely different roles of course, but the point remains that Johnson wasn’t hyper-productive in Happy Valley.

Despite the relatively low raw stats, Johnson did show off the skills that make him an intriguing prospect. His straight-line speed is noticeable on tape, and his huge frame (6’6″, 259lbs) makes him a threat in the redzone. His size also gives him upside as a blocker if he can improve his technique.

Even with solid tape, Johnson was considered a day-3 prospect as the draft process started. His Senior Bowl performance helped get his projection closer to the top of day 3, but things changed at the NFL combine.

Theo Johnson is a TE prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored a 9.98 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 3 out of 1116 TE from 1987 to 2024.

Pro day pending.https://t.co/vdNVYANarO pic.twitter.com/G0tf5jaD5J

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 12, 2024

Just look at those numbers! Johnson truly showed out in a way very few do at the combine, and it clearly had an impact on his perception. According to NFL Mock Draft Database, his average ranking jumped nearly 30 spots the week following the combine. Analysts clearly gave him a boost for his elite workout, and in a relatively weak tight end class, it makes sense to boost up an elite athlete.

The problem is that it doesn’t change the flaws that Johnson has on tape. He is explosive when he can run straight, but he is very stiff in his routes and struggles to change direction effectively. It’s hard to expect such a tall and well-built player to move fluidly, but it has to be considered when determining his value to an NFL offense.

Do I think he could be a starting tight end at the next level? Maybe, but he doesn’t fit the profile of a modern receiving tight end. He is a better fit as a #2 tight end who can be a weapon in the redzone and on vertical routes. Is that worth a high pick? NFL teams will have to determine that before the draft kicks off in late April.

Stock: Up

Full 7-round 2024 NFL mock draft: First projections after NFL Scouting Combine

The first full seven-round 2024 NFL mock draft for the Patriots after the NFL Scouting Combine

The NFL Scouting Combine has come and gone, and many people are excited for the NFL offseason with free agency and the 2024 NFL draft right around the corner.

In New England, fans are itching to see the offensive talent the new regime will target. These are exciting times, but it’s also worth prefacing: The NFL combine is not a way to evaluate talent, but it is a way to finalize your draft board.

My 2024 draft kit is coming soon, and I utilized specific combine drills to finalize some matchups where the margins are smaller.

I think 10-yard split, 3-cone and other drills are more important than the 40-yard dash, vertical, long jump and bench press. Those specific drills will showcase what actually happens in a game, as opposed to the latter which happens in rare situations.

In the NFL, short area quickness, explosiveness and change of direction are valuable for evaluations. As I finalize my kit, It’s time we head into the true mock draft realm.

This time of the year is typically when I switch my mock drafts to what I think the Patriots will do, as opposed to what I want them to do. However, without any knowledge of what this regime will be doing in their first year, I am making these selections based on reports out there, who the team has been interviewing and who is on the roster currently.

Without further ado, let’s get right into the latest seven-round mock draft.

Biggest winners from the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine

Biggest winners from the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine from Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon after a long week in Indianapolis

Four days of on-field workouts in Indianapolis concluded on Sunday with the offensive linemen taking the stage at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.

Over 300 prospects participated in the interviews, medical examinations, on-field testing and more during the week. Scores of those players performed very well and augmented their appeal to the NFL decision-makers. But a few separated themselves at the top of the most impressive combine performers.

Here are the biggest winners from the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

2024 NFL combine: Tracking the results of Penn State’s prospects

We are keeping tabs on all of the NFL combine results of Penn State players in Indianapolis.

Penn State sent 10 players to this year’s NFL combine in Indianapolis and it did not take long to leave a mark on the NFL scouting world. Defensive end Chop Robinson set the combine on fire with his 40-yard dash time as he looked to improve his outlook for a potential first-round draft pick. So the first day of the combine was quite electric for Penn State football going to the next level.

Olu Fashanu is Penn State’s top draft prospect in the 2024 NFL draft. Adisa Isaac and Curtis Jacobs were among the players looking to follow up strong showings in the college football all-star games after the season. Meanwhile, Kalen King was a player looking to redeem his draft profile a bit after a shaky finish to the season and all-star game performance.

Here is a quick rundown of how every Penn State player at the NFL combine measured up and performed.

6 takeaways from Day 2 of the NFL Combine

Six takeaways from Day 2 of NFL combine testing with the DBs and TEs.

The NFL Scouting Combine continued with defensive backs and tight ends taking the field in Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday afternoon.

The importance of the combine is more for the medicals and team interviews but the testing does help confirm what you see on tape or it may force you to go back to take a look because a prospect performed better than expected or fell short of expectations.

The secondary will be the focus for Chris Ballard with it being a weak point on the roster heading into the offseason. For the tight ends, it is a crowded room for the Indianapolis Colts, but that didn’t stop Ballard from selecting Will Mallory last year, and this class does include the potential playmaker in Brock Bowers who can help elevate the group.

Here are the six biggest takeaways from Day 2 of the NFL combine:

6 standouts from DB, TE workouts at 2024 NFL Scouting Combine

Which cornerbacks and tight ends stood out most on Day 2 in Indianapolis?

The Jacksonville Jaguars have made no secret that they want to add to their cornerback room. New defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen hinted at the need in his introductory press conference and general manager Trent Baalke was much less subtle when he said it’s “a group we need to address.”

Thus, there are plenty of cornerbacks — like Alabama’s Terrion Arnold, Clemson’s Nate Wiggins, and Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell — who could end up being the No. 17 overall pick in April. And all of those players were on display Friday at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.

The Jaguars seem less inclined to add a tight end to their roster, but that position competed Friday as well. Here are six players who stood out in Day 2 at the combine:

5 TEs the Colts should watch at the NFL combine

Here are some TEs the Colts should watch at the NFL combine.

The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine officially got underway with the start of workouts Thursday, and they’ll continue Friday with the defensive backs and tight ends taking the field.

The Indianapolis Colts will have a keen eye on all three positions—safeties and cornerbacks are lumped together—considering they are relatively high priorities in terms of needs this offseason.

While the combine is mostly important for the medical reports and formal interviews with prospects, the on-field testing does carry some weight for the Colts. Their investment in high-end athletes has been well-documented throughout Chris Ballard’s tenure.

Though the tight end room is relatively crowded, the Colts could still use a draft pick on a rookie tight end

Here are five tight ends the Colts should watch during Friday’s workouts at the NFL combine:

How to watch the NFL combine: Friday, March 1

After a great day at the combine by former Penn State players, Friday is shaping up to be a massive day as well.

After a big day at the NFL combine by former Penn State players [autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag], [autotag]Adisa Isaac[/autotag], and [autotag]Curtis Jacobs[/autotag], the fun continues on Friday as the NFL combine sees the defensive backs and tight ends hit the field for combine drills. And once again, it should be a busy day for Penn State Nittany Lions at the combine.

Penn State will have four more players getting on the combine field today with cornerbacks [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag], [autotag]Johnny Dixon[/autotag], and [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag] competing against the nation’s top defensive backs for the best 40-yard dash times and more. Tight end [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] will also be on the field looking to improve his draft outlook. Yesterday’s defensive ends and linebackers will complete their workouts as well with the bench press, should they choose to participate.

Here is everything you need to know about the NFL combine for today and what to watch from the former Penn State players in attendance for the day’s workouts.