Former NFL Scout Gives Avery Johnson Second Round Grade

Kansas State quarterback (QB) Avery Johnson is a playmaker.

He’s exciting to watch and unpredictable for defenses to deal with.

Johnson is a true dual threat. He’s fast when he takes off and runs, and shows a strong right arm when he throws.

The more I watched his 2024 film, the more I began seeing that he is showing several traits that translate well to the National Football League.

My least favorite part of his game?

Johnson has a nasty tendency to occasionally become too tunnel-visioned (or panic), not see defenders in throwing lanes, and throw some “What were you thinking passes?”

What’s my favorite part of his game?

Resilence.

Johnson bounces right back from mistakes (short-term memory) and relentlessly and aggressively attacks defenses with his arm and his legs.

Any other elephants in the room?

• Inconsistent throwing mechanics
• Inconsistent in getting the ball out of his hand on time (3.05 second time to throw per Pro Football Focus

These two factors drive his inaccuracies.

Normally, those two weaknesses would be enough to drive a quarterback prospect down my draft board, but Johnson also shows the ability to do both things. He showed he was capable of setting up and using an equally distributed upper and lower body throwing motion, and he demonstrated he can get the ball out of his hand faster.

It’s in him.

However, the thing that bothered me the most was his tendency to “deadlock” onto his targets for an extra noticeable moment before releasing when setting up in the pocket using proper quarterback throwing mechanics.

NFL traits to be excited about

• Shows he can go through his progressions
• Poised in a dirty pocket
• Ability to create

The first one is a biggie in the NFL.

Johnson shows a high-level ability to work through his target selection when he drops into the pocket and to go through his reads.

As he’s doing that, he doesn’t lose his downfield focus with pass rushers in his face.

Another plus ⎯

Johnson isn’t just slippery in the pocket (13 sacks in 13 games); he also shows the ability to get out of structure and roll out in either direction to make some nice off-platform throws.

Deep game?

• +19 air yards 14/43 (32.5%)

It’s not where it needs to be, but in the same breath, he did throw some downfield beauties.

When he missed, he tended to overthrow his receivers.

Johnson is poised for a breakout season

That’s the sense I get after marinating in his 2024 game film for five days.

He’s showing tangible signs that he’s developing in most of the areas I’ve identified as his weaknesses. I anticipate improvements in all of those areas this season based on what he put on film. He looks like he’s being coached well and is receptive to direction.

#2 Avery Johnson 6-foot-2, 192 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Summer Grade: Second-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 1.2% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of June 17, 2025 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Injury risk: Moderate

2024 game film evaluated: UT Martin, Tulane, Arizona, BYU, Oklahoma State, Colorado, West Virginia, Kansas, Houston, ASU, Cincinnati, Iowa State, and Rutgers (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Injury above his left hip

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Intriguing, fearless, and energetic pass-first and run-second prospect. Read-option play-action system. Downfield focused. Confident. Patient. Isn’t afraid to throw it away. Throws with average anticipation. Average accuracy. Screen passes aren’t even a given. Can throw from different arm angles. Some improv. Too dependent on arm strength when throwing. Can fit the ball into some tight throwing windows. Decent throwing instincts that are not mechanics-dependent. Subject to drops. Ball security: 26 PBUs/13 games (2.00 per game avg). Can layer some throws. Cut-back runner who shows quick acceleration and speed. Glides. Able to make defenders miss. Average at protecting his body. Regularly ducks out of bounds.

What to watch for during the 2025 college football season

1. Deadlocking into targets before throwing from the pocket?

2. Getting the ball out of his hand on time?

3. Seeing defenders in his throwing lanes, or is he still throwing these dangerous passes?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.