Giants tight end Theo Johnson impresses during drills at rookie minicamp
Theo Johnson during the Giants rookie minicamp at the Meadowlands Quest practice facility in East Rutherford, NJ, Saturday, May 11, 2024. Credit: Ed Murray
Reality set in during rookie minicamp over the weekend for the Giants’ fourth-round draft pick, Theo Johnson.
“It’s really cool,” said Johnson, who played tight end for Penn State. “You know, you dream of playing for an NFL team, but actually having that ‘NY’ on your helmet, it’s a different feeling.”
Johnson, who is 6-6, 259 pounds, seems to have a great opportunity before him and he stood out in outdoor drills on Saturday.
“Yeah, it’s really exciting for me because I think I have a super-high ceiling,” he said. “I think I haven’t even scratched the surface of what I’m capable of. I’m really looking forward to proving every day that I’m out here.”
With Darren Waller apparently still weighing retirement, Johnson could have an important role with the Giants this season.
“I’ve heard stuff [about Waller weighing retirement] but I’m not sure what’s going to happen,’’ Johnson said. “At the end of the day, him being in the room is going to be good for everybody, so we’ll see how it shakes out.”
Asked if Waller has reached out to him, Johnson said, “No, ma’am.”
Johnson was well-known by the Giants’ staff coming out of college. Christian Daboll, son of coach Brian Daboll, worked with the football program at Penn State as a student-coach.
That surely helped in the evaluation process.
Johnson played in 44 games for Penn State, catching 77 passes for 938 yards and 12 touchdowns, including seven last season.
Tracy’s shift in position
Running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. had a candid answer when asked if he would have been drafted if he had played his entire college career as a wide receiver.
“No,” said the Giants’ fifth-round draft choice out of Purdue, who signed his contract before rookie minicamp.
Tracy played six seasons of collegiate football, the first four as an Iowa wide receiver and the final two as a Purdue running back.
The NFL’s new kickoff rules could give Tracy an immediate avenue to help on game days. “I’m pretty happy, to say the least,” he said with a smile.
LB Muasau: Let it snow!
This may turn into one of those “be careful what you wish for” scenarios, but linebacker Darius Muasau, who grew up in Hawaii, said he’s looking forward to seeing snow for the first time.
“Yeah, I brought all my cold-weather gear — all two jackets that I have,” he said, laughing.
Muasau already knows new Giants special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial from their connections at the University of Hawaii.
“He is the same coach,” Muasau said. “High energy everywhere he is. I’m just loving this feeling. Nothing beats this, man.”
Kimberly Jones covers the Giants for Newsday, a beat she first worked in the early 2000s before joining the YES Network to cover the Yankees. She worked for the NFL Network for more than a decade and has been heard semi-regularly on WFAN.
