Tag: theo johnson

Theo Johnson believes he can be a ‘special player’ for New York Giants

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft, got his first taste of East Rutherford earlier this week.

Johnson was among a horde attending the team’s annual rookie minicamp and the reality of his professional future finally set in.

“You know, you dream of playing for an NFL team, but actually having that ‘NY’ on your helmet, it’s a different feeling,” he told reporters.

As excited as Johnson is for the next phase of his career, he remains equally as confident. He believes he can adjust well to the NFL and develop into a “special” player for the Giants.

“It’s really exciting for me because I think I have a super high ceiling. I think I haven’t even scratched the surface of what I’m capable of. I’m really looking forward to proving every day that I’m out here,” he said. “I think I have tremendous room to improve. I think I can grow a lot more than where I’m at right now. I think that’s why I’m so excited.

“I’m coming in here with a learning mindset. I want to develop respect from my teammates and my coaches. I think that’s going to help me continue to grow and improve. But I’m super excited to get to work and get going here, because I think I have a potential to be a really special player here.”

How much of a role Johnson plays as a rookie will hinge on the future of veteran Darren Waller, who remains undecided about retirement two weeks after the draft.

Thus far, Johnson hasn’t heard a peep from Waller but would like to see him return to the tight ends room.

“At the end of the day, him being in the room is going to be good for everybody, so we’ll see how it shakes out,” Johnson said.

If Waller calls it a career, Johnson is ready to assume the additional responsibilities with an eye on doing “special” things within the offense.

Follow the Giants Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts 
 Spotify 
 Google Podcasts

Read all the best Giants coverage at NorthJersey.com and Giants Wire.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

5 things we learned from Day 2 of New York Giants rookie minicamp

Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

The Giants signed veteran wide receiver Allen Robinson earlier this week and head coach Brian Daboll appears thrilled to have him.

“Had a good workout. Has been a productive player for a while. We’ve had good conversations. Ended up choosing to come here. Happy to have him,” Daboll said on Friday. “We’ll throw him out there and see how he does.”

Robinson’s contract details were revealed on Saturday and were as expected.



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Do New York Giants need to add more talent at the tight end position?

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen has been busy this offseason filling his team’s most glaring needs in preparation for the 2024 season.

But not all of the team’s needs have been addressed. There’s always work to be done.

ESPN’s Aaron Schatz recently listed each team’s biggest remaining roster holes now that the draft and the bulk of free agency are over. For the Giants, he sees their biggest hole at the tight end position.

This is another team with questions at running back even after adding free agent Devin Singletary, but we’ll go with tight end as the team’s largest hole. That assumes that Darren Waller will retire, which is up in the air. If Waller leaves, the Giants will go back to starting Daniel Bellinger, who caught just 30 passes as a rookie in 2022 and then 25 more last season. The G-Men spent a fourth-round pick on Theo Johnson out of Penn State to back up Bellinger and/or Waller. They also have veteran blocking tight end Chris Manhertz and former Eagles backup Jack Stoll. For a team coming off a 6-11 season, New York has a surprisingly hole-free starting lineup — as long as you don’t want to have a complicated debate about the quarterback position.

Schatz is not buying into the narrative that Johnson is going to contribute more than expected as a rookie. He also makes no mention of Lawrence Cager, a player who continues to find his way on the field for the Giants.

Darren Waller is almost certain to retire as he is still mulling his future as the team goes through their offseason training program. Daniel Bellinger has never been given a primary role as a receiver and it’s anyone’s guess how he’ll handle an expanded role in his third season.

Follow the Giants Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts 
 Spotify 
 Google Podcasts

Read all the best Giants coverage at NorthJersey.com and Giants Wire.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Is New York Giants’ receiving corps among the league’s most improved?

The 2024 NFL draft saw several teams upgrade their receiver rooms. Are the New York Giants among the teams that improved the most?

Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus believes so:

Darius Slayton’s ongoing contract discussions combined with the Giants having the worst receiving grade in the league last year left the team in need of some juice at wideout. The team got exactly that in LSU’s Malik Nabers, who led the FBS in receiving grade in 2023 (minimum 15 targets). A staple of Nabers’ game is slipperiness after the catch, as reflected by his 30 missed tackles forced last year.

If Slayton does remain in blue and red, he’ll form a potent one-two punch with the 20-year-old Nabers. Regardless, Nabers provides real insurance, given the inconsistent production of Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt, who each tallied less than 530 yards in 2023.

Beyond Nabers, general manager Joe Schoen was proactive in finding a new tight end. Veteran Darren Waller continues to seriously mull retirement, so the Giants snatched Penn State’s Theo Johnson at 107th overall. Not only did Johnson test incredibly well — with a 9.93 Relative Athletic Score — but he was also a red-zone weapon for the Nittany Lions. His seven touchdowns in 2023 tied for a team high.

Daniel Bellinger projects as TE1 for New York, but Johnson should feature in 12 personnel, which offensive coordinator Mike Kafka ran on 23% of plays in 2023 — the 12th-highest rate in the NFL.

Assuming quarterback Daniel Jones remains under center, both the explosive Nabers and Johnson should augment a poor group from the year before. Both could go a long way in returning the Giants’ offense to its efficient 2022 form.

New York went into the 2023 season with one of the worst receiving corps in the NFL. It was highlighted by Darren Waller, Darius Slayton, Parris Campbell and Wan’Dale Robinson.

Waller was in the back end of his career and not very productive, and it was clear that Slayton, Campbell and Robinson should not be top receiving options on the team. This resulted in the Giants passing for only 3,351 yards and 15 touchdowns.

The deficiency was clear, and the front office decided to address it with a premium draft pick by selecting wide receiver Malik Nabers sixth overall.

In his collegiate career, Nabers totaled 189 receptions for 3,003 yards and 21 touchdowns (14 in his final season). Nabers should be an instant winner on the outside as he is an elite space creator and is electric with the ball in his hands.

The Giants also drafted tight end Theo Johnson, who racked up 77 receptions for 938 yards and 12 touchdowns (seven in his final season) in his collegiate career.

The two rookies totaled more touchdowns last season than the Giants’ entire receiving corps. Only time will tell if the team has really turned the receiving corps around but as of now, it looks good.

Read all the best Giants coverage at NorthJersey.com and Giants Wire.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

2024 NFL draft: Grading each of the Giants' six picks

The New York Giants did not make any trades — up or back — during the 2024 NFL draft, which was a surprise to some. But the real surprise came when they chose not to select either an offensive or a defensive lineman this year. They were the only team in the league not to do so.

That aside, the Giants took six interesting players they had specific plans for. Here are our grades on each pick.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

What pre-draft scouting reports said about Giants TE Theo Johnson

Johnson’s pure long-range speed can make him difficult to keep leverage against, and he also provides value as a RAC threat in the short range. When schemed touches on swings and screens, he can accrue additional yards with his forward-pressing physicality and leg drive.

As a seam and crosser weapon and as a RAC threat, Johnson’s upside is visible, and he’s also an elite blocker to boot — with stellar technique, leveraging, usage versatility, and finishing ability. But past those categories, Johnson’s translatability is less clear.

Johnson visibly lacks the fluidity, short-area quickness, and hip flexibility to stack brisk direction changes and hip transitions, and he struggles to sink at stems as well. And as a catcher, his hand technique can be very inconsistent, which can source drops.

Johnson’s linear, slow-striding build and lack of sink and corrective mobility will likely constrict his route tree at the NFL level, and he’ll need to shore up his hand technique and coordination before he can be relied upon as a red zone threat.

Nevertheless, Johnson profiles reasonably well as a quality TE2 who fits a niche with his receiving skill set and provides exciting utility as a usage-versatile blocking presence.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Giants drafted Theo Johnson with Darren Waller’s uncertainty in mind

Heading into the 2024 NFL draft, the New York Giants were still uncertain about whether or not star tight end Darren Waller would ever play for them again.

Waller is still mulling his options while going through a tumultuous time in his personal life, including a divorce from his wife, WNBA star Kelsey Plum, after only a year.

After the second day of the draft, the Giants still had no clarity on Waller’s status.

“No, nothing’s changed there,” said Giants general manager Joe Schoen. “We’re still giving him space and when he’s ready to make a decision, we’ll have those conversations.”

Those conversations were suddenly rendered less imminent on Saturday when the Giants selected Penn State tight end Theo Johnson — a very Waller-like-looking player — with the 107th overall pick in Round 4.

After the draft, Schoen was asked if the Johnson pick was in direct response to Waller’s situation.

“We had to take that into account for sure,” he said. “But you know, Theo was the top player on our board. I’m trying to think, if there were any of these guys that we took that weren’t the top player on the board at the time…last night we left, he was sticking out for us.  You always think when you come in the next morning, he’s going to go sooner and may not be there and we’re excited to get Theo.”

Johnson did not visit with the Giants during the pre-draft process but said it was “clear” that the Giants had an interest in him. The only association he had with the Giants before Saturday was an interaction with quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney at the Senior Bowl but admitted he had another tie to the club.

“Went to school and worked with Christian Daboll, Brian Daboll’s son, when he was at Penn State,” Johnson revealed. “So pretty early on, they showed a lot of interest and it was clear that this was definitely a potential landing spot for me.”

The 6-foot-6, 257-pound Johnson said he had not yet talked to the Giants about what role he might play. He was also asked if he had watched a lot of Waller, who he has been compared to in several scouting reports.

“I’ve definitely watched Darren Waller,” Johnson said. “I have a lot of respect for his game. You know, he’s someone that has really established himself in the league, and I’m really looking forward to being in the same room as him and just hearing his wisdom from what he’s been through, not only in his career and his life but I’m really looking forward to being his teammate.”

That last part may not come to pass. The Giants, of course, will want a decision from Waller at some point this spring so they can sort out their roster and finances.

Johnson, by continuing to develop, can help the Giants ease into what appears to be Waller’s almost certain departure. He can only look forward, though. And he’s ready to help the Giants in any way he can.

“I think I’m definitely capable of being a tight end that you can’t take off the field with all the attributes that I have and I’m going to work for that,” he said. “I know I have work to do and I’m going to do the work it’s going to take to be a George Kittle and be a guy that you just don’t want to take off the field because I can do every single thing you’re asking your tight end to do.”

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Experts dole out grades for New York Giants

The 2024 NFL draft reached its end on Saturday evening and for the New York Giants, they came away with an impressive six-pick haul despite failing to move up for a quarterback in Round 1.

Over the first two days, the Giants selected three potential starters in wide receiver Malik Nabers, safety Tyler Nubin, and cornerback Andru Phillips.

They continued beefing up their roster on Day 3, adding dynamic talent such as tight end Theo Johnson, running back Tyrone Tracy, and linebacker Darius Muasau.

Here’s how NFL experts and analysts graded Big Blue’s full draft haul:

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

What Chad Reuter had to say:

The Giants ignored the historic quarterback run early on to grab Nabers, an explosive receiver with a game similar to the team’s 2014 first-rounder, Odell Beckham Jr. We’ll see if sticking with Daniel Jones and Drew Lock instead of taking another QB was the correct move. Nubin and Phillips were fair value in the secondary, where the team needed more talent.

Johnson will be an excellent fourth-round pick if he can fully translate his athleticism to the field. Tracy is an offensive weapon in the making, whether at running back or receiver. Muasau will be a starter in the league despite being picked in the sixth.

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

What PFF had to say:

Tracy is a good athlete — he recorded a 4.48-second 40-yard dash and 40-inch vertical jump — and should add some explosiveness to a backfield led by Devin Singletary. Despite being a six-year player in college, Tracy has only one season at running back, and he forced 46 missed tackles on just 114 carries in that 2023 season.

James Gilbert/Getty Images

What USA TODAY had to say:

The Daniel Jones haters may not be mollified, but given the team was wed to him contractually this season regardless, GM Joe Schoen and HC Brian Daboll went about the draft the right way. First-round WR Malik Nabers (LSU) should be a field-flipping asset to Jones and/or whomever eventually replaces him. Third-round Kentucky CB Dru Phillips will compete against anybody. Some second-round maneuvering over the past few months netted highly regarded Minnesota S Tyler Nubin and former Panthers pass rusher Brian Burns, who’s already signed an extension and now bookends Kayvon Thibodeaux. Solid-plus.

Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

What the Washington Post had to say:

The Giants opted to help Daniel Jones, as the QB returns from his torn ACL in his right knee, rather than searching for his eventual successor. They stayed put at No. 6 overall, passed up the available quarterbacks and chose WR Malik Nabers. He could be a star — if the Giants have a QB capable of getting him the ball. They added the draft’s top-rated safety, Tyler Nubin, in the middle of the second round.

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

What The Ringer had to say:

THE GIANTS DECIDED TO HITCH THEIR WAGON TO DANIEL JONES (AND/OR DREW LOCK) FOR ANOTHER YEAR, eschewing the opportunity to draft a quarterback at no. 6 to instead take electric receiver Malik Nabers. The former LSU pass catcher is speed personified, giving the team a much-needed no. 1 receiver to build the offense around. The team then turned around on Day 2 and bolstered its secondary, grabbing my top-ranked safety Tyler Nubin in the second round before adding feisty cornerback Andru Phillips in the third. Both could start from the get-go. In the fourth round, New York selected a highly athletic tight end in Theo Johnson, who is raw but well built and versatile and provides depth if and when Darren Waller retires. I liked the Tyrone Tracy addition in the fifth round, too—the former receiver-turned-running back who adds an explosive element to the team’s running backs group and gives the team a potential change-of-pace and pass-catching option on third downs.

Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

What CBS Sports had to say:

The Giants’ theme was pinpointing big-time athletes in this class. Nabers was my WR1, so fine start there. Phillips was one of the most impressive plant-and-drive corner in the class, and Johnson was the most athletic tight end with his best football in front of him. 

Tracy can threaten Devin Singletary for the RB1 and, if he can shore up his tackling, Muasau’s play-recognition skills are spectacular. He beats blockers with relative ease, too. 

Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

What Sports Illustrated had to say:

The hope is that Nabers is everything he’s been billed to be. The comparisons for him pre-draft were incredibly glowing, but the Giants have been here before. A star receiver out of LSU wants the ball and an underperforming quarterback is struggling to get it to him. If Nabers lifts Daniel Jones into perpetual above-averageness, then this was worth the major swing. It’s also smart to continue rebuilding this secondary post-Wink Martindale as the Giants prepare for something a little less guerilla style. 

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

What the Associated Press had to say:

WR Malik Nabers (6) fills a major void. Boosted the secondary on Day 2 with S Tyler Nubin (47) and CB Andru Phillips (70). RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. is raw but has potential.

Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports

What Mel Kiper Jr. had to say:

The Giants were on the clock at No. 6 overall Thursday night, faced with a fascinating decision: Would they take quarterback J.J. McCarthy — which would have been an admission that they regret the Daniel Jones extension from the 2023 offseason — or would they get a true No. 1 wideout for Jones in either Rome Odunze or Malik Nabers? They could start fresh under center or they could give Jones another year with the playmaker he has never had.

Ultimately, I think they made the right call, prioritizing a pass-catcher in Nabers (6), who is electric with the ball in his hands. Jones had a disappointing start to last season and then tore his ACL, but he showed his talent in 2022, when New York made a surprising run to the playoffs. Now he’s going to have one more year to prove he’s the guy, or the franchise will move on in 2025.

I would have taken a few other safeties ahead of Tyler Nubin (47) in Round 2, but you can’t deny his playmaking ability; he had 13 career interceptions for the Golden Gophers. Dru Phillips (70) is a late riser who played a lot of slot coverage snaps in his career. With Darren Waller’s future up in the air, I liked the pick of Theo Johnson (107) early on Day 3. He’s my fourth-ranked tight end in the class.

This is a small class, but all four of the Giants’ top selections should have significant roles this season. Nabers might end up being the most-targeted player on the team.

Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

What Doug Farrar had to say:

When your quarterbacks are Daniel Jones and Drew Lock, does it matter what else you do in the draft? We’re about to find out. At least the Giants gave their middling quarterbacks the best receiver in this class in Malik Nabers, who’s kind of a faster Steve Smith in his playing personality. Penn State tight end Theo Johnson will also help. And while I’m not as high on Kentucky cornerback Andru Phillips are, he’s a competent slot defender. Getting Tyler Nubin in the second round should ease the pain of losing Xavier McKinney in free agency.

The sleeper here — and one of my favorite running backs in this class — is Tyrone Tracy Jr., the former Iowa receiver who may have had the most insane run in the NCAA last season. The Giants got a lot of talent in this draft, but again… how much will it matter?

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

RAS scores for New York Giants’ 6-player class

The 2024 NFL draft has officially come and gone, and now it’s time for the post-draft over-analyzation period to begin.

For the New York Giants, they came away with an impressive six-player draft class with no reaches and a lot of value. They entered the three-day event with a clear plan of attack and executed it well despite coming up short on a first-round trade.

General manager Joe Schoen called many of the names of players he and the team were familiar with and had met with. Most also had impressive RAS scores.

What is RAS?

RAS — also known as Relative Athletic Score — is a measurement of a player’s athletic testing in relation to both size and historic results. Each individual measurement is graded on a scale of 0-10 (10 being the highest).

Here’s a quick look at the RAS scores for all six Giants draft picks:

Note: Nubin conducted his athletic testing following surgery for a meniscus injury.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Follow each member of New York Giants’ 2024 draft class on Twitter

The New York Giants and general manager Joe Schoen called the names of six players during the 2024 NFL draft in Detroit over the weekend beginning with LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers.

Things wrapped up on Saturday with their final selection of UCLA linebacker Darius Muasau.

All six members of the Giants’ 2024 draft class have X, formerly known as Twitter, accounts (some more active than others) and this is how you can follow them:



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Exit mobile version