Avery Johnson Scouting Report

Avery Johnson is a dynamic dual-threat quarterback whose athleticism fuels his ability to create explosive plays both as a passer and a runner.

Draft Grade: Round 4 – Developmental Traits

Strengths:

Playmaking Ability: Johnson is a true playmaker who thrives when the play breaks down. He leverages his athleticism to extend plays, escape pressure, and create explosive opportunities both through the air and on the ground.

Athleticism: A high-end athlete for the quarterback position, Johnson possesses the speed, quickness, and agility to be a constant threat in the open field. His movement skills make him a weapon on designed runs and scrambles alike.

Football IQ/Instincts: Johnson shows impressive instincts and awareness in chaotic situations. He maintains poise under pressure and has a natural feel for when to escape the pocket, improvise, or find mismatches in the defense.

Concerns:

Turnovers: Johnson can be overly aggressive with his decision-making, at times forcing throws into tight or closed windows. This tendency increases his risk for interceptions and stalled drives.

Size: With a leaner frame, Johnson may face durability concerns at the next level. His slight build raises questions about his ability to withstand consistent physical punishment over the course of a season.

Accuracy: Johnson’s ball placement is inconsistent across all three levels of the field. Much of this stems from inconsistent lower-body mechanics, which affect his throwing base and lead to errant passes, especially when on the move or under pressure.

Avery Johnson Summary/Projection:

Avery Johnson enters the 2026 NFL Draft as one of the more exciting dual-threat quarterback prospects in the class. After serving as a reserve his freshman season, Johnson became Kansas State’s full-time starter in 2024 as a sophomore and immediately made a major impact. He set a school record with 25 passing touchdowns while throwing for over 2,700 yards and adding 605 rushing yards, proving himself to be a true two-way threat capable of dictating games with both his arm and his legs.

As a passer, Johnson shows the ability to operate at all three levels of the field. On short throws, he displays quick processing skills and a fast, compact release, thriving particularly in RPO concepts where he can make rapid post-snap reads. He has the arm velocity to fit the ball into tight windows and can distribute efficiently on perimeter screens and quick hitters. In the intermediate game, Johnson works well with in-breaking routes like digs and crossers. He demonstrates a solid feel for coverages, showing anticipation against both zone and man by throwing receivers open with timing. He also shows good touch on layered throws, particularly on sail and smash concepts. Deep down the field, Johnson is capable of making impressive throws on vertical routes such as go balls and skinny posts, combining arm strength and touch to drop passes into ideal locations.

Johnson’s dynamic athleticism, however, is what truly elevates his profile. He’s a quick accelerator with the speed to beat angles in the open field, regularly turning designed quarterback runs or broken plays into explosive gains. His escapability in the pocket gives him the ability to extend plays, and he’s proven effective as a ball carrier, often demanding defensive attention as a legitimate rushing threat.

The biggest area of improvement for Johnson is his accuracy and consistency as a passer. While he flashes the ability to deliver precise throws, his overall completion percentage remains average. Much of this inconsistency stems from erratic lower-body mechanics—when his base is off or rushed, his ball placement suffers. Additionally, when under pressure, Johnson’s process tends to speed up, affecting both his decision-making and footwork. These are technical issues that are correctable with coaching and development.