The Oregon Ducks lost to Ohio State in the second round of the College Football Playoff, clearing the way for their prospects to prepare for the pre-draft process. The Kansas City Chiefs could target several Ducks in the 2025 NFL draft.
Oregon wideout Tez Johnson is a sudden and twitchy receiver with experience playing in the slot and out wide. He projects inside at the NFL level because of his 5’10”, 165 lb. frame. Johnson is an experienced punt returner who took one play 85 yards to the house against Boise State earlier this year.
Johnson uses his speed to stack cornerbacks out of press or overtake off-man coverage. Oregon schemes him touches on short routes or screens, but he stretches the field too. Johnson explodes off the line and uses a combination of head and shoulder fakes, quick footwork and sharp mid-route cuts to separate from defenders.
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Defensive backs struggle to mirror Johnson at the top of the route’s stem because of his elite agility and footwork. He manipulates leverage to move defenders and create space to break into. Defenders who rely on physicality find some success sticking with Johnson and forcibly re-routing him.
Johnson is a monster after the catch. He doesn’t break tackles with power, but defenders struggle to get their hands on him. Johnson’s elite acceleration erases pursuit angles and helps him finish big plays in the end zone. Defenders can’t match his twitch and agility in the open field.
The Chiefs might avoid drafting Johnson because Xavier Worthy already fills a similar role on their offense. However, Johnson’s superior twitch and special teams ability give him a path to the field if he lands in Kansas City.