Tez Johnson WR Oregon | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Tez Johnson WR Oregon
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Slot Receiver | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/01/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.51 seconds (47%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Slot Receiver | |
| Last Updated: 03/01/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.51 seconds (47%*) | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 83.8 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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79% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 128.6 | |
| Hands: |
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84% |
| Short Receiving: |
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92% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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94% |
| Deep Threat: |
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93% |
| Blocking: |
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58% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#98
Position rank:
#15
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| College Games: 61 College Snaps: 2040 | ||
ESPN RATING: 76/100
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247 RATING: 79/100
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Josh Downs - North Carolina |
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85% |
| Tahj Washington - USC |
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79% |
| Parker Washington - Penn State |
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78% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Born into challenging circumstances in Birmingham, Alabama, Johnson's path to the NFL exemplifies perseverance. After losing his father at a young age, his life changed dramatically when he was adopted by Patrick Nix, former Auburn quarterback and father of Bo Nix. This connection would later prove pivotal in his development, as he followed his adoptive brother to Oregon after a stellar career at Troy.At Troy, he established himself as a dynamic playmaker, leading the team in receiving for consecutive seasons and earning third-team All-Sun Belt honors. His transition to Power 5 competition at Oregon was seamless, where he shattered expectations with an 86-catch, 1,182-yard campaign in 2023.
The 5'9", 156-pound receiver capped his collegiate career with another stellar season in 2024, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors while leading the Ducks in all major receiving categories (83 catches, 898 yards, 10 TDs). His impact extended beyond the offense, as he showed game-breaking ability as a punt returner, including taking one back for a touchdown.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Crafty route technician who manipulates defensive leverage with masterful tempo changes and deceptive head fakes, especially devastating on option routes from the slot
- Electric acceleration and change-of-direction skills make him a yards-after-catch nightmare - turns quick hitches into chunk plays regularly
- Shows exceptional spatial awareness against zone coverage, consistently finding soft spots and presenting clear throwing windows for his quarterback
- Vertical route-running chops belie his size - consistently stacks defensive backs and tracks the deep ball like a center fielder
- Creates instant separation with explosive lateral cuts that leave defenders grabbing air, particularly lethal on shallow crosses and option routes
- Natural return man skills translate to offensive creativity - makes the first man miss consistently and shows outstanding field vision in space
- Exceptional production across multiple offenses proves scheme versatility - adapted seamlessly from Troy's spread to Oregon's pro-style concepts
- Deep speed isn't just straight-line - maintains velocity through breaks and accelerates out of cuts with instant burst
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Extremely light frame at 156 pounds raises durability concerns - will struggle to maintain playing weight through the NFL season's physical toll
- Lacks natural hands-catcher instincts - too often lets the ball get into his frame, leading to unnecessary bobbles and concentration drops
- Physical corners can disrupt timing by pressing at the line - needs clean releases to maximize route-running effectiveness
- Limited catch radius combined with smaller frame significantly reduces margin for error on throws outside his frame
- Despite improved drop rate in 2024, historical issues with consistency catching the ball could resurface against more physical NFL coverage
- Disapointed at the combine running in the 4.5 range
Scouting Report: Summary
In timing-based passing attacks, Johnson's expertise in quick-game concepts and option routes makes him a natural fit from the slot. His blend of short-area quickness and spatial awareness against zone coverage shows up consistently on film, particularly in his ability to uncover early in his routes. The tape reveals a receiver who wins through precise footwork and manipulation of defensive leverage rather than pure athleticism.In the NFL, Johnson will need specific play-calling that maximizes his strengths while protecting him from physical corners. Pre-snap motion and bunch formations can help create free releases, while his natural feel for finding soft spots in zone coverage makes him valuable on crucial downs. His punt return experience provides day-one special teams value as he develops his receiving role.
His size limitations will likely restrict him to slot duties and specific package plays, but his production against top competition suggests he can carve out a role as a dependable third-down target and return specialist. Teams running spread concepts that create space underneath should value his ability to separate quickly and turn short completions into chunk plays. Success at the next level will depend heavily on scheme fit and his ability to maintain durability against NFL physicality.
Written By:
Lennox Tate
Tez Johnson percentiles vs other Wide Receivers (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Tez Johnson (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
82.9
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
13.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.