Collin Johnson projected to end first-round Texas draft drought

Currently in the midst of an historic first-round draft drought, the Texas Longhorns could finally break that streak in 2020, as multiple mock drafts have senior wide receiver Collin Johnson coming off the board in the first round.

SB Nation projects Johnson going No. 22 to the Dallas Cowboys due to potential turnover at the position and the lack of a true X receiver who can win one-on-one matchups on the outside.

At Sports Illustrated, the expectations are even higher for Johnson’s draft prospects, slotting the 6’6, 220-pounder at No. 13 to the Carolina Panthers:

At 6’6” and 220 pounds, Johnson is a jump-ball nightmare matchup who should be Sam Ehlinger’s top target this fall after the departure of the versatile Lil’Jordan Humphrey. He would give Panthers opponents a completely different look opposite the speedy D.J. Moore.

As SI noted, the expectations are high for Johnson this season as the team’s leading returning receiver after Johnson finished his junior year as Texas’ second-leading receiver with 68 receptions for 985 yards and seven touchdowns. Johnson also set the Big 12 Championship Game-record with 177 receiving yards on eight catches with a touchdown despite playing through a knee injury that required offseason surgery.

In his three seasons at Texas, Johnson has amassed 150 receptions and 2,245 yards, both good enough to be No. 9 all-time in their respective categories. For the 2018 season, he and Lil’Jordan Humphrey combined for 2,161 yards to finish with the second-highest yardage total in a single season, 22 yards shy of Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley’s 2008 season.

If Johnson is selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, he’ll become the first first-round draft pick from Texas since defensive tackle Malcom Brown in 2015 and the first Longhorns wide receiver drafted in the first round since Roy Williams in 2004. The last Texas offensive player selected in the first round was quarterback Vince Young in the 2006 draft.