Jamari Johnson
Oregon#18 overallDraft Movement
Holding at #18 since Jun 8
Scouting Report
A converted high school quarterback turned modern Y tight end, Jamari Johnson has quickly become one of the more intriguing names in the 2027 class after transferring from Louisville to Oregon for the 2025 season. ESPN's Matt Miller tabbed him as his top tight end in the class, noting that Johnson often overshadows likely top-50 teammate Kenyon Sadiq despite working as the Ducks' nominal TE2, and praising his all-around size and strength at 6-foot-5 and 257 pounds, his sure hands and his rare burst for a big frame. Vikings Wire's summer scouting report echoed that, calling him perhaps the best of Oregon's recent run of athletic tight ends and pointing to a quicker, more polished blocking profile than Sadiq. PFF charting backs up the well-rounded picture: he lined up in-line 51.5 percent of the time, generated 2.02 yards per route run on an 8.7-yard average depth of target, dropped just two passes and converted three contested catches. The film flashes a quick release off the line, explosive movement turning upfield after the catch and enough route nuance and speed to separate. He was named All-Big Ten honorable mention in his first Oregon season and strung together at least one catch in 14 straight games. The consensus board on NFL Mock Draft Database lists him at No. 17 overall with a projected first-round grade, while SI slotted him around No. 30 as a late-first projection. Johnson himself acknowledged he returned to school to clean up footwork, hand placement, run blocking and route detail before turning pro.
Strengths
- Prototypical NFL Y frame at 6-foot-5, 257 pounds, capable of handling inline duties while staying a threat in space
- ESPN's Matt Miller's top-ranked TE in the 2027 class
- rare burst and acceleration for a big body, explosive turning upfield after the catch
- sure hands with only two drops on PFF charting
- productive route runner at 2.02 yards per route run with three contested catches made
- quick release off the line of scrimmage
- willing, leverage-based run blocker who gets good positioning, viewed as a better blocker than teammate Kenyon Sadiq
- big-play element shown by a 15.9-yard average per catch in 2025
Weaknesses
- Still raw as a route runner and blocker, admitting he needs to refine footwork, hand placement and route depth after converting from quarterback
- modest career production (45 catches, 668 yards, 4 TD across 27 games) thanks in part to splitting targets behind Sadiq
- relatively low 8.7-yard average depth of target suggests much of his work came short of the sticks
- technical blocking nuances still developing for an inline role
- limited high-end college sample with only one full season as a featured contributor
- needs to prove he can be a true TE1 rather than a complementary piece
NFL Comparison
Colston Loveland (modern movement Y with size and ball skills, listed by MDD as a historical comparison); Irv Smith Jr. (athletic mid-round TE with similar trajectory per MDD); Terrance Ferguson (fellow Oregon TE drafted on size-plus-burst profile); Kenyon Sadiq (direct teammate comp, though Johnson is the cleaner blocker)
College Stats
2023 Louisville: 5 G, 0 rec (redshirt); 2024 Louisville: 7 G, 13 rec, 158 yds, 12.2 avg, 1 TD; 2025 Oregon: 15 G, 32 rec, 510 yds, 15.9 avg, 3 TD; Career: 27 G, 45 rec, 668 yds, 14.8 avg, 4 TD; PFF 2025: 51.5% inline alignment, 2.02 YPRR, 8.7 aDOT, 2 drops, 3 contested catches
Measurables
Awards & Honors
All-Big Ten honorable mention (2025); high school All-American; 247Sports four-star recruit and No. 11 athlete in the 2023 class; ESPN's No. 1 TE in the 2027 class (Matt Miller); NFL Mock Draft Database consensus No. 17 overall, projected first round