Tight Ends took the field at the 2024 NFL Combine on Friday, and there were several that stood out from the crowd. One that stood out more than others was Penn State’s Theo Johnson. Brock Bowers may have all the attention when it comes to tight ends in the NFL draft, but Johnson definitely turned some heads. He had several firsts for a tight end in the NFL Combine.
Johnson’s results at the NFL Combine can be baffling when looking at his numbers at Penn State. He wasn’t much of an impact on offense on the surface. But he is impressive when you take a closer look at his numbers. The 2023 Iron Lion award winner was targeted just 43 times last season, but did have six touchdowns. He had 11 touchdowns on 95 targets in his career with the Nittany Lions. His 76.8% catch rate is also impressive. Aside from showing his ability to be an offensive weapon in the NFL, Johnson also has good blocking ability, making him having the potential to be an all around tight end in the NFL.
Theo Johnson’s performance at the NFL combine has certainly raised his stock. He was a projected borderline third day pick going into the combine, but he could be taken on day 2 of the NFL draft. Brock Bowers will be the only tight end prospect worthy of being a first round pick, however Johnson just gave every NFL team another viable option at the TE position.