Kansas State QB Avery Johnson's NFL Draft Outlook Is Complicated

Story by

Jonathan D Adams

Sat, Aug 23, 2025 ·

4 min read

Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson was one of the more touted recruits in program history , but the signal-caller is still working to improve his NFL draft outlook. Johnson is absent from the majority of early 2026 NFL mock drafts, including Athlon Sports' Luke Easterling's projections.

Part of the reason Will Howard hit the transfer portal in 2024 was the presence of Johnson. Yet, the signal-caller underwhelmed with inconsistent play during his first season as Kansas State's QB1.

Johnson threw for 2,712 yards , 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing 58.3% of his passes in 2024. The signal-caller's biggest asset is his athleticism with Johnson adding 605 rushing yards and seven TDs on the ground.

Let's dive into Johnson's NFL draft outlook.

Kansas State QB Avery Johnson Is Projected To Be a Fourth-Round Pick in the 2026 NFL Draft

NFL scouts will likely be watching to see if Johnson displays more consistency from the pocket while cutting down on turnovers. Johnson is still being floated as a potential NFL quarterback given the signal-caller's athletic traits.

The Athletic's Dane Brugler has Johnson as his No. 7 rated quarterback among eligible underclassman in his early 2026 NFL draft rankings. Heading into the college football season, Johnson projects as a potential fourth-round pick, per The Draft Network's Keith Sanchez .

"Johnson’s dynamic athleticism, however, is what truly elevates his profile," Sanchez wrote on Friday. "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."

Avery Johnson's Speed in the 40-yard Dash Was Last Recorded at 4.56 Seconds

Johnson has the size (6-foot-2) and speed that NFL teams covet. The quarterback's last recorded 40-yard dash time comes from when Johnson was a four-star recruit. Players tend to improve their speed during their college careers.

Johnson chose Kansas State over other notable programs like the Oregon Ducks, Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Washington Huskies. The quarterback posted a 4.56-second 40-yard dash time as a recruit, per 247Sports' Chris Hummer.

" A member of 247Sports' 2022 Freaks List , Johnson was one of the most athletic players in the country in his class, regardless of position," Hummer wrote in Oct. 2023. "Johnson posted a 4.56-second 40-yard dash time, an eye-popping 4.24 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle and also jumped nearly 37 inches in the vertical leap.

"To put that in context, here's 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins on Johnson last year: 'Those numbers were good enough for a 106.5 SPARQ score, which tops what both Lamar Jackson (83.31) and Jalen Hurts (82.71) totaled when back when they were in 11th grade.'"

Avery Johnson Has Plenty of Time to Improve His NFL Draft Stock

The good news for Johnson is that 2026 NFL draft projections this time of year are written in pencil, not pen. There is still plenty of time for Johnson to move up NFL draft boards.

Johnson has a major spotlight as Kansas State takes on the Iowa State Cyclones in the marquee matchup of Week 0. The Wildcats have a chance to contend in the Big 12 but will need Johnson to show improvement in year two as the starter.

A strong season from Kansas State could only help Johnson's NFL draft stock. Kansas State's additional marquee games this season include matchups against the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Utah Utes and Colorado Buffaloes .

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the College section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.