Lions Meet with Top WR Prospect Quentin Johnston
Meeting season is underway at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
According to multiple reports, the Detroit Lions have met with at least two players -- Florida State safety Jammie Robinson and TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston.
Both players are intriguing prospects. Johnston is considered to be among the best receivers in the class, ranking first on some big boards. He had a breakout 2022 season for the Horned Frogs, catching 60 passes for 1,069 yards and six scores.
Johnston was a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2022, and was the Offensive Most Valuable Player in his team's win over Michigan in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
At 6-foot-4, Johnston has a big frame, and can make contested catches. He finished the season with a 77.0 receiving grade from Pro Football Focus, and notched a 76.2 overall grade.
TCW wideout Quentin Johnston
© Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
He had dealt with injuries in his first two seasons at TCU, but showed superb skill when healthy for 14 games during a 2022 campaign that saw his team reach the College Football Playoff national championship.
His strength and size, paired with explosive ability, have him set up to be one of the top rookie receivers next season.
“A tall, long, strong, explosive and fast pass-catcher, Quentin Johnston is an exciting deep and jump-ball threat who wins with physicality after the catch,” reads his one-liner scouting report on NFL Draft Bible. “Though he has struggled with injuries and his athletic profile does not lend itself to high-level or diverse route running, the TCU receiver is an immediate low-level starter with elite upside.”
Robinson, meanwhile, is believed to be a Day 2 pick in the NFL Draft. He played two seasons at South Carolina, before transferring to Florida State (serving as a starter in all four years).
He spent time at both safety positions during his college career. According to PFF, he played 633 career snaps as the box safety and another 759 as the free safety. That versatility and a hard-hitting mindset will make him an asset for whichever team drafts him.
He had a big 2021 showing, intercepting four passes while totaling 84 tackles (including seven for loss). In 2022, he made 99 tackles, including five for loss, and picked off one pass.
Robinson was rewarded in 2022 with first-team All-ACC honors, and was named Florida State's Defensive MVP. He's the first Florida State player since Jalen Ramsey to earn first-team All-ACC honors in consecutive seasons.
The versatile safety has high upside, showcasing the necessary tackling skills to be a factor while also being viable in coverage. He finished the season with a PFF tackling grade of 80.1 and a coverage grade of 78.0.
“This is one hard-hitting safety with a very high ceiling,” his NFL Draft Bible one-liner reads. “He is outstanding against the run and still has the right amount of coverage and ball skills to become an elite safety.”
The Lions currently hold two first-round picks: No. 6 and No. 18 overall. Additionally, they have five picks inside the first 85 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
