This Draft Prospect Thinks He'd Look Good in Giants Blue
TCU receiver Quentin Johnston was feeling a little blue during the NFL combine last week. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, you see, as Johnston, who wore blue during his days at Temple High School, already likes how he looks in the color and could see himself wearing blue as a pro if the New York Giants call his name next month.
"I met with [the Giants] Wednesday and will meet with them again soon. It was a very welcoming staff, had good talks with them. I for sure see myself in that blue with them,” Johnston said during the combine media sessions with receivers last week.
The Giants offense has not asked quarterback Daniel Jones to make big plays downfield. Instead, last year’s play-calling prioritized short passes, runs, and clock management. It helped Jones reduce turnovers and control the time-of-possession, but also made it difficult to climb out of deficits, like against the Philadelphia Eagles.
While head coach Brian Daboll certainly appreciates the value of protecting the football, he also had to work within the confines of the roster. The Giants lacked a true vertical threat at wide receiver, a problem that could be rectified if New York views Johnston as a fit.
“[Brian Daboll] wants guys who can separate. No matter how tall, short, wide, if you can separate, we’ll find a way to use them within the offense,” Giants general manager Joe Schoen told reporters last week.
Based on that criteria, Johnston certainly fits the bill. At 6-foot-3, 208 pounds with blazing speed, the Temple, Texas native forced college defenses to show him respect, playing off and avoiding press coverage whenever possible.
Johnston, who defenders have allowed ample cushion to avoid the possibility of him leaving them in their dust, spoke of one of his favorite routes.
“Besides vertical, I like the curl. It's a route I feel I can always sell," he said. "Go a few extra steps on that vertical, then just break it off. It's something I've sprung a few big plays off."
Part of Johnston’s success comes from his ability to throttle up and down instantly. It likens him to Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams, a player Johnston tries to emulate.
"Being a taller receiver, my ability to get in and out of my breaks. Usually, unless you've already been in the league, it takes taller receivers more time to get in and out of breaks. I feel like that's something I've worked on a lot, playing like I'm 5-10,” he said.
Last season, in the Horned Frogs' memorable run to the FBS National Championship, Johnston logged 1,069 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 60 receptions. However, like the rest of the TCU offense, Johnston failed to get going against Georgia in the title game, limiting Johnston to one catch for three yards in a 65-7 Bulldogs win.
"I didn't have as many targets. We weren't always on the same page that game,” Johnston said. “Mentally, as a team, we weren't all the way there. We weren't ready for that stage, for that matchup at that time."
Johnston suffered an ankle sprain late in the season, which might have hampered his explosiveness. He has also faced criticism for running a limited route tree and trapping the ball with his chest instead of catching it with his hands away from his body.
NFL defensive backs might not give him as much respect as he did in college, drawing his effectiveness at the next level into question. But that doesn't mean he can't be a viable option on a team with many question marks at receiver.
Sterling Shepard's contract has already been voided, and both Richie James and Darius Slayton are likely to hit free agency. Kenny Golladay will be an ex-Giant by the start of the new league year on March 15, and Wan'Dale Robinson is recovering from an ACL injury that might not allow him to be ready for the start of the season.
This offseason, the pool for available wide receivers is shallow. Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster leads the pack. A 26-year-old with plenty in the tank, Smith-Schuster logged 78 catches, 933 yards, and three touchdowns last season.
Jakobi Meyers of the Patriots is another receiver who, if he hits the free-agent market, could draw interest, but otherwise, the current free-agent crop is one of the weakest in years.
That's why the Giants best bet might just be the draft. Johnston tops most wide receiver prospect rankings, including on Pro Football Focus and NFL Draft Bible.
USC’s Jordan Addison, Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Boston College’s Zay Flowers are close behind him. All four have a legitimate shot at going in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft,
The Giants, drafting 25th overall, can sit back and wait for the best available receiver without needing to trade up, should they prioritize the position.
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