2023 NFL Draft: Jaguars Set To Meet With Top WR Prospect Quentin Johnston

The Jacksonville Jaguars featured a vastly improved offense in the 2022 season due in large part to their bevy of pass catchers, with wideouts Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, and tight end Evan Engram all putting up career best efforts for a unit that was the No. 9 offense in terms of DVOA.

While each player mentioned above will be returning for the 2023 campaign, the Jaguars are doing their due diligence on adding personnel through the draft, with Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reporting that the Jaguars are one of multiple teams meeting with top wideout prospect Quentin Johnston.

The 21-year-old played three years with the Horned Frogs of TCU, finishing his collegiate career with 115 receptions for 2,190 yards and 14 touchdowns, adding two rushing touchdowns on eight career carries.

It was the 2022 season when Johnston truly broke out, hauling in a career-high 60 receptions for 1,069 yards and six touchdowns. Additionally, quarterbacks held a 102.5 QBR rating when targeting him per NFL Draft Buzz.

At 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds with 33 ⅝” arms and 9 ⅝” hands, to go with a 4.40 second time on the 40-yard dash, Johnston possesses an elite size, speed combination while emerging as a dangerous vertical threat at the collegiate level.

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein compared the 21-year-old to former Pro-Bowler Alshon Jeffery, noting the upside the talented wideout possesses in his draft analysis.

“Height-weight-speed prospect with the physical traits and upside that might have teams willing to overlook some of his inconsistencies on tape,” Zierlein wrote. 

“Johnston is a long-striding vertical threat who can open up and separate when allowed to keep his feet moving in space. His elevation and catch radius create an expansive target area down the field, but his overall success rate on contested catches is way lower than it should be for a receiver of his size. Johnston needs a specific route tree, but will improve in that area at the next level. He will benefit from a more accurate deep-ball quarterback, but still feels more like a good WR2 than a high-volume WR1.”

Projections have Johnston as a high upside first-round talent, with most mock drafts expecting him to be taken before the Jaguars selection at the 24th overall pick. Even if he were to fall to the Jags selection, an argument can be made that the addition of Calvin Ridley should quell all talks of spending a premium pick at wideout, with other needs at cornerback, safety, and offensive tackle looming large.

However, in the NFL you can never have enough weapons, and Johnston represents the cream of the crop in the upcoming NFL Draft. It is a storyline worth keeping an eye on as the end of April inches closer.