Vikings Select TCU WR Quentin Johnston in New PFF Mock Draft
The idea of the Vikings selecting a wide receiver in the first round of next month's NFL draft has garnered plenty of discussion this offseason, and Adam Thielen's release only added fuel to that fire. Players like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jordan Addison, and Zay Flowers could all be fits for the Vikings as a long-term running mate for superstar Justin Jefferson at one of the game's most important positions.
Here's another wideout that maybe hasn't been talked about as much in connection with the Vikings: TCU's Quentin Johnston. In a new mock from PFF's Brad Spielberger, Johnston is the pick for Minnesota at No. 23 overall.
Minnesota parted ways with longtime wide receiver Adam Thielen, and K.J. Osborn is entering the final year of his contract in 2023. Here, they add a No. 2 option alongside Justin Jefferson who can win on jump balls downfield and also rack up yards after the catch.
Johnston ranked in the top 25 in yards per route run across the FBS in 2022, with his 17 missed tackles forced tied for 13th. While he got shut down against Georgia in the national championship game along with the entire TCU offense, he stepped up in the first round of the College Football Playoff against a stout Michigan defense with a 6-163-1 stat line and did all he could to avoid defeat against Kansas State in the Big 12 title game with four receptions for 139 yards. Johnston can become more consistent and use his size more effectively, but there’s a lot to like about his ability going forward.
One of the reasons why Johnston hasn't been a common pick for the Vikings is that for much of the pre-draft cycle, he's been projected to be taken earlier than 23rd. But in this mock, Smith-Njigba is the first receiver taken at pick 12, and Addison comes off the board second at 20. That allows Johnston to wind up with the Vikings.
The fit makes sense. Johnston is a true outside (X or Z) receiver who possesses an intriguing combination of size and speed which, in theory, could make him an excellent complement to Jefferson. Standing at 6'3", 208 pounds, he showed off a remarkable 40.5-inch vertical leap at the combine. Johnston can go up and get the ball in contested situations, but his game is a lot more varied than that. He also averaged 8.9 yards after the catch per reception in 2022, proving he's dangerous in the open field.
Johnston broke out with 60 catches for 1,069 yards and six touchdowns as a junior, including huge games against Kansas, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, and Michigan. He did have just one catch for 3 yards in the national title game against Georgia, but TCU's entire offense was shut down in that one. Johnston didn't run the 40 at the combine, but his tape shows he has high-end speed for his size.
If there's one main critique of Johnston's game, it's that he needs to continue to improve his technique and releases against press-man coverage. With his athleticism, that shouldn't be too difficult to achieve. Johnston is an elite-level athlete who can win both at the catch point and with the ball in his hands, which is why he'll go off the board at some point in the first round in April.
If he falls to 23, picking him and adding him to an offense with Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson could be awfully intriguing for Minnesota's front office.
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