NFL Draft 2019 Scouting Report: WR Jon’Vea Johnson, Toledo

*WR grades can and will change as more information comes in from Pro Day workouts, Wonderlic test results leaked, etc. We will update ratings as new info becomes available.

*WR-B stands for "Big-WR," a classification we use to separate the more physical, downfield/over-the-top, heavy-red-zone-threat-type WRs. Our WR-S/"Small-WRs" are profiled by our computer more as slot and/or possession-type WRs who are typically less physical and rely more on speed/agility to operate underneath the defense and/or use big speed to get open deep...they are not used as weapons in the red zone as much. 

-- ‘Quick hit’ scouting is a quick publishing of shorthand notes I had from watching 2-4 games of activity on a prospect this week, and with me already knowing the measurables and where the prospect was drafted. Also, with me having done some brief tape study/work on them and having a computer scouting model grade on them pre-Draft. With the ‘quick hit’, I wanted to do an abridged re-look at certain prospects, post-draft, for any numbers of reasons. -- 

Why a re-look here? Two reasons, but one main reason, really. 

(1) We’re doing a little series of “Three-Cone Freaks” the next few weeks…prospects I haven’t gone deeper into other than a basic viewing and running them through our computer scouting models. Oh, and they are prospects with super-high-end three-cone times from there Pro Day. 

Johnson posted a 6.68 three-cone at his Pro Day, so he made the list of considerations. 

(2) Most importantly – I watched Diontae Johnson (Toledo teammate, Steelers shock 3rd-round pick) tape quite a while a month ago and I kept getting Diontae and Jon’Vea confused at first…they are very similar in build, movement, and skills somewhat. The first time I watched anything with Diontae (pre-Draft), I walked away noting ‘Who is that Jon’Vea guy? He looked pretty good! I think Diontae is potentially special…after a deeper look at him. Now, let’s see if Jon’Vea is possibly a hidden gem too. 

Jon’Vea went undrafted and signed by Dallas, and when VP Will McClay grabs under-the-radar guys, I like to take deeper looks at them. 

I watched Johnson in games in 2018 and 2017, and then looked over his highlight tape again as well as doing some background work. Here are my notes as I wrote them spending a day on Jon’Vea…

 -- Father was a fringe NFL roster WR in the late-80s.

 -- Every time I watch Toledo tape, I have a hard time finding/identifying Jon’Vea vs. Diontae Johnson. 

Diontae = 5’10.4”/183

Jon’Vea = 5’10.6”/188

 -- Jon’Vea is good but not quite the on-field presence that Diontae is. Diontae has an aggressive/domination streak and Jon’Vea is more low-key, subtly good…gets open, makes his plays, moves on without fanfare.

 -- One of the issues identifying Diontae, which I give the Steeler scout that pushed him a ton of credit, was this Toledo passing game, especially in 2018…the QBs were so-so over the past three seasons, but in 2018 the guy/QB was always wanting to run. He’s playing with three NFL WRs (Diontae, Jon’Vea, and Cody Thompson/KC) and he gives one look and starts running. It makes it hard to properly scout Jon’Vea just like it did for me watching Diontae at first/pre-Draft. 

 -- Has good movement off the snap move like, a lesser Diontae Johnson…which is a compliment because Diontae is one of the great ‘off the snap’ movement guys I’ve ever seen. 

 -- Jon’Vea is quick, shifty enough to get open on most any coverage.

 -- Plays tough enough despite a thinner-frame but is a little more finesse and low-key than you’d like to see trying to find a ‘star’ not just ‘capable’. 

 -- Good hands, good adjustments to bad passes. 

In the end, I can find no real scouting fault with Jon’Vea. I don’t think he was scouted well as a UDFA talent. He was good enough to be drafted. He just played for a team that was loaded at WR and wasn’t the greatest throwing the ball at times. 

Jon’Vea can play the position and you look at his Pro Day and can’t help but wonder why he’s overlooked. 

Jon’Vea Johnson, Through the Lens of Our WR Scouting Algorithm:

 -- Last three seasons at Toledo:

40-772-10 (12 games) = 2016

42-689-5 (13 games) = 2017

32-660-9 (13 games) = 2018

Solid seasons, but nothing special…but, again, he was arguably the #3 WR option on a so-so passing team.

 -- Three bowl games…

2-22-0 vs. Appalachian State/2016

1-14-0 vs. Appalachian State/2017

3-49-2 vs. Fla Int’l/2018

My main fear on Jon’Vea -- big spotlight…wilts into the background. But is some of that the presence of the other top WRs working here? 

Jon’Vea’s Pro Day vs. Diontae’s Combine:

8.8” hands, 31.4” arms = Jon’Vea

9.0” hands, 30.8” arms = Diontae

4.40 40-time, 2.58 20-yard, 1.52 10-yard = Jon’Vea

4.53 40-time, 2.62 20-yard, 1.59 10-yard = Diontae

4.17 shuttle, 6.68 three-cone = Jon’Vea

4.45 shuttle, 7.09 thrtee-cone = Diontae

12 bench reps, 35.0” vertical, 10’8” broad = Jon’Vea

15 bench reps, 33.5” vertical, 10’3” broad = Diontae

By the measurables, you’d want Jon’Vea but then you see Diontae dominate all the production statistically and on tape and you get the idea here…Jon’Vea has the talent, but he’s either too passive, or Diontae (and Cody Thompson) were just too good. 

The Historical WR Prospects to Whom Jon’Vea Johnson Most Compares Within Our System:

I’m not sure there’s ever been a better comp…Jon’Vea Johnson and T.J. Jones. Thinner-framed, athletic, talented, low key. But I also see Doug Baldwin on the computer match list…he’s a guy that wasn’t a college standout, was a UDFA, but then willed his way to becoming one of the better NFL WRs the past few years. Maybe Jon’Vea could come out of his shell and do the same? 

*A score of 7.0+ is where we start to take a Small-WR prospect more seriously. A score of 8.50+ is where we see a stronger correlation of a Small-WR going on to become NFL good/great/elite. A score of 10.00+ is more rarefied air in our system and indicates a greater probability of becoming an elite NFL Small-WR.

All of the WR ratings are based on a 0–10 scale, but a player can score negative, or above a 10.0 in certain instances.

Overall WR score = A combination of several on-field performance measures, including refinement for strength of opponents faced. Mixed with all the physical measurement metrics, rated historically in our database.

“Power-Strength” = A combination of unique metrics surrounding physical-size profiling, bench press strength, etc.  High scorers here project to be more physical, better blockers, and less injury-prone.

“Speed-Agility” = A combination of unique metrics surrounding speed, agility, physical size, mixed with some on-field performance metrics. High scorers here project to have a better YAC and show characteristics to be used as deep threats/create separation.

“Hands” = A combination of unique metrics surrounding on-field performance in college, considering the strength of opponents played. Furthermore, this data considers some physical profiling for hand size, etc. High scorers here have a better track record of college statistical performance, and overall this projects the combination of performance and physical data for the next level.

2019 NFL Draft Outlook:

*UDFA signee of the Dallas Cowboys*

NFL Outlook:   

Either T.J. Jones…or Doug Baldwin…or somewhere in-between? I can’t help but think Johnson is going to be that great grinder #4-5 WR for a team that never really becomes memorable, but there’s a chance based on his profile -- so he’s definitely worth a look. 

Early reports from Dallas have been very favorable…not just the flowery crap you usually hear on every rookie in the summer. 

6/23/2019