The Los Angeles Rams blindsided a lot of people in the 2021 draft when they selected Tutu Atwell at No. 57 overall in the second round. Needing offensive line help, the Rams passed on Creed Humphrey and instead took the undersized receiver out of Louisville in what felt like a luxury pick by Les Snead and Sean McVay.
Though Atwell got progressively better each year, things just didn’t work out for him in Los Angeles and now that he’s set to be a free agent in March, it’s reasonable to think he’s played his last down with the Rams.
Assuming Atwell leaves, might the Rams consider replacing him with a similarly undersized wideout in the 2025 draft?
Oregon’s Tez Johnson weighed in at 5-foot-9 and 156 pounds at the Senior Bowl this week, the exact same height and only 1 pound heavier than Atwell was at the 2021 NFL combine. There’s no question he’s small, but that didn’t scare McVay away from Atwell four years ago and it may not deter him from taking a shot on Johnson this spring.
While speed was Atwell’s biggest asset, Johnson is a terrific route runner who creates separation with ease at the top of his routes. That’s been on full display in Mobile where he’s been borderline unguardable for opposing Senior Bowl cornerbacks.
Tez Johnson in one-on-ones might as well be Tez Johnson running routes on air pic.twitter.com/rQnWUbhxvV
— Max Chadwick (@CFBMaxChadwick) January 29, 2025
Wide receivers certainly have the advantage in these one-on-one drills but the amount of separation Johnson creates – and the ease in which he does so – is impressive.
It’s why he’s such a promising prospect despite legitimate concerns about his size, especially after Atwell failed to amount to much with the Rams in the last four years.
Here is every one-on-one rep by Oregon WR Tez Johnson during Day 1 of the Senior Bowl: pic.twitter.com/GuyF11UnSP
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) January 28, 2025
Johnson, who’s viewed as a Day 2 prospect right now, could see his stock continue to rise if he keeps shining during the pre-draft process. He should run well in the 40-yard dash and his agility numbers are likely to be among the best at his position.
When talking about his game and who he compares to, he named three outstanding receivers who are currently in the NFL – including a Rams star. He mentioned Tank Dell, Cooper Kupp and Tyler Lockett as wideouts he models his game after, even saying that Kupp helped him this offseason.
“Cooper Kupp, he helped me this offseason as far as decision-making in option routes and stuff like that, and Tank Dell because of the route-running,” he said.
Asked Oregon WR Tez Johnson which pro receiver he models his game after—he mentioned Tank Dell, Cooper Kupp, and Tyler Lockett. 💨🏈 #SeniorBowl #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE pic.twitter.com/n0sPCsbMZj
— Griffin Conant (@griffin_conant4) January 30, 2025
It’d be hard to sell the fanbase on another 5-9, 155-pound receiver early in the draft, but Johnson is a promising prospect who appears better than Atwell when it comes to releases at the line of scrimmage and route running.
The Rams need wide receiver help with Atwell and Demarcus Robinson being free agents, as well as Kupp’s future being uncertain, so Johnson could be a logical target for Los Angeles on Day 2. Taking a player that small comes with risk but don’t put it past McVay to take the dynamic receiver out of Oregon.
