Titans host top wide receiver prospect for visit
Earlier this week, the Tennessee Titans hosted TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston for a Top 30 visit. Johnston is one of the top receiver prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. Johnston was a big part of TCU's magical season in 2022, recording 60 catches, 1,069 receiving yards, and six touchdowns for the Horned Frogs in […]
Earlier this week, the Tennessee Titans hosted TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston for a Top 30 visit. Johnston is one of the top receiver prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Johnston was a big part of TCU's magical season in 2022, recording 60 catches, 1,069 receiving yards, and six touchdowns for the Horned Frogs in his junior season.
Johnston shined the brightest during the National Semifinal, where he had six catches for 163 yards and one touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines.
From a physical standpoint, it's easy to see why so many are high on Johnston as a prospect. He is 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds with a 40.5-inch vertical and a nice catch radius.
It's numbers like that and plays like these that could make Johnston a dangerous number one receiver in the NFL.
There is no denying Johnston's ability as a big-play threat and athlete, but some scouts have their doubts about his ability to excel as a route-runner at the next level. His releases can be a bit slow, and he's too inconsistent at getting separation. The breakaway speed is there, but that won't be good enough against highly-skilled defensive backs at the next level.
When Johnston was matched up with the Georgia Bulldogs' defense in the National Championship Game, he was held to one catch for three yards.
If Johnston's ball skills and his consistency in traffic leave something to be desired, he's not truly maximizing his physical stature. That makes him pretty limited in terms of what he can be in the league.
For me, there are too many questions left unanswered to use a first round pick on him. I'm out on Johnston as a first round wide receiver, and it sounds like a lot of NFL teams might be too (Johnston was not invited to the NFL Draft in Kansas City). But if he's still on the board by the time Tennessee is picking at 41, that upside might be too good to pass up on.
There is no bigger need on the Titans' roster than wide receiver heading into the draft, and while I don't believe Johnston is the type of prospect that fits perfectly with Tennessee's current roster, the ceiling is there for Johnston to be a prime Alshon Jeffery. If he hits, Johnston and Treylon Burks would quickly become one of the most feared duos in football.
I still expect Johnston to go in the back half of the first round to some WR needy team, but his stock is something to monitor as Draft Day gets closer.
