New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson made headlines for the wrong reasons down the stretch of his otherwise promising second NFL campaign. Going to watch the hometown Knicks play at Madison Square Garden shortly after getting ruled out with an "illness" wasn't the best decision.
However, that's exactly what Johnson hopes to clean up while preparing for his third year in the pros. The 2024 fourth-round pick wants to eliminate the mistakes we often see from younger players like him and become the reliable asset he can be.
Johnson was asked about his offseason goals when addressing the media the day after the Giants' Week 18 win over the Dallas Cowboys. He ostensibly has clear objectives, ones that could enable him to take another meaningful step(s) toward becoming New York's next great tight end.
Theo Johnson's offseason goals should have Giants fans excited for what's to come
Confidence is high for Johnson, who believes what he's put on the tape thus far proves the Giants can lean on him as a difference-maker. Yet, the desire to hone his craft and become a more well-rounded contributor is evident:
"I'm going to work really hard on consistency. I'm going to hammer the ball drills. Overall, technique is going to be a big thing for me, but I've shown I can do everything that I'm being asked of."Theo Johnson, Giants' official YouTube
For someone who turns 25 in February, this is an impressively accurate self-aware assessment. Johnson hit the nail on the head in terms of what he needs to improve: being dependable on a down-to-down basis, specifically as a pass-catcher.
The Giants took the good with the bad from Johnson in 2025, letting him learn from experience in a high-usage, full-time receiving role. He was one of only 12 tight ends to run at least 400 routes and finished 13th in air yards (588) despite missing two games. His combination of size and elite athleticism was on full display, but so was a lack of refined skills.
No one at Johnson's position had more drops than his 10. In fact, he was the only one to crack double digits. This is despite him posting an 82.2 percent catchable target rate.
With that in mind, working on his hands is understandably atop Johnson's to-do list. Point-blank, he needs to do a better job of coming down with balls. Doing this will allow Penn State product to grow into the high-level playmaker many see in him, including San Francisco 49ers star George Kittle.
Note: Stats courtesy of Fantasy Points' data suite ($).