The NFL is a meritocracy. For the most part, the best players play and get paid the most. However, the NFL Draft isn’t quite that way. Yes, the best players get drafted first, but relationships and who you know end up mattering a lot more than you would think. Coaches like to coach players they know and like to be around, and that will be the case until the end of time.
That’s why it’s notable that Junior Adams, the new wide receiver coach for the Dallas Cowboys, visited Oregon’s Pro Day this week to watch Tez Johnson.
Adams was the wide receivers coach at Oregon over the last three years, and he was also the co-offensive coordinator. He’s obviously very familiar with the talent there, and yet, he still wanted to get another look at Johnson.
Oregon WR Tez Johnson’s fit with the Cowboys
Johnson’s stock took a big hit at the NFL Combine, as he ran a 4.51 40-yard dash at just 154 pounds. To his credit, he plays much faster than that time, but it’s still not a good number for a receiver who is that light.
As of this moment, Johnson is currently 93rd on the consensus board, but we can assume that he will continue to fall. Most draft experts believe he could fall well into Day 3 of the NFL Draft because of his smaller stature and very average athleticism.
While it’s easy to harp on Johnson's lack of size and average athleticism, there is still a lot to like. He is one of the top route runners in the class, and he is tough to bring down after the catch despite his size. Johnson certainly doesn’t project as a WR1 on the next level, but he could be a really strong complementary receiver in the mold of Darnell Mooney in the right offense.
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The Cowboys are expected to add a wide receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft; the only question is where he will be selected. Johnson would make a lot of sense for the Cowboys on Day 3, especially with the Cowboys owning seven picks from Rounds 5-7. The hope is that they can find a true No. 2 receiver to play with CeeDee Lamb, but adding more depth to fill out the middle of the roster could also be in play.
Dallas desperately needs to add more quickness to their offense, and Johnson has plenty of that. His size might limit him to the slot-only in the NFL, but there is a good chance that he could have a Tank Dell type of impact right away with the right team.
And with Dallas already having his former wide receiver coach on staff, the transition to the pros wouldn’t be a tough one for him. Adams would best know how to use Johnson and could come up with a way to deploy the dynamic receiver from Eugene.
Look for Johnson to be an option for the Cowboys starting in Round 5 as they look to round out their wide receiver room. Even as a Day 3 rookie, he could compete with Jonathan Mingo, Jalen Brooks, and KaVontae Turpin for targets in Brian Schottenheimer’s new offense.
Given how well Dallas knows the prospect, Tez Johnson sure feels like a potential target in the 2025 NFL Draft.