Former Florida Gators running back Montrell Johnson Jr. was once viewed as a potential late-round steal in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, he went undrafted and later signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.
A lot of his draft slide could be attributed to missing the final four games of the 2024 season due to a knee injury. Nevertheless, Johnson capped off a career that began at Louisiana and concluded at Florida with 3,089 rushing yards, 33 touchdowns, and an impressive average of 5.4 yards per carry.
Knee Injury Dropped Draft Stock for Florida RB
As a freshman at Louisiana, Johnson was named Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and earned Second Team All-Sun Belt honors after leading the Ragin’ Cajuns with 838 rushing yards on 162 attempts and a team-high 12 touchdowns.
Johnson followed head coach Billy Napier to Florida before the 2022 season, where he rushed for 841 yards and 10 touchdowns. In his junior year, he posted 817 rushing yards and five touchdowns. However, his senior season in 2024 was marred by a knee injury that caused him to miss four games.
That injury hurt his draft stock and forced him off draft boards for many NFL teams as a potential risk. Johnson underwent a surgical procedure to repair his knee prior to the start of the 2024 season, but the injury lingered throughout the year.
Can Johnson Make Eagles 53-Man Roster?
At 5-11 and 212 pounds, Johnson runs with a physical style. While he’s not known for his elusiveness, he bullies defenders with his aggressive running. Although he may not display creativity in the open field or have an innate sense for where lanes will open, NFL coaches may appreciate his power and balance at the point of attack. He attacks the interior with force, and when he breaks into the open field, he is a tough runner to bring down.
He has a wide stance and runs with his pads forward. While he’s not shifty, his cuts are explosive and decisive. His endurance is solid, and he’s the type of runner who falls forward, picking up those extra yards and inches. Though Florida didn’t use him often in pass protection, his physicality could make him effective in that area.
Johnson doesn’t have explosive or sudden speed but more of a steady, locomotive-type burst, as seen by his 4.58-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. This lack of burst and suddenness makes it difficult for him to escape defenders or eliminate pursuit angles, relying instead on his strength.
Joining a Philly backfield that includes Saquon Barkley, A.J. Dillon, and Will Shipley in the top three spots, Johnson faces a tough challenge to crack the active roster. The Eagles also picked up Central Arkansas running back ShunDerrick Powell as an undrafted rookie free agent, while inking veteran Avery Williams to a one-year deal in free agency.