Overview

Position: CB

College: Michigan

Class: Junior

Age: 22

 

Measurables

Height: 6’1 3/4”

Weight: 194 lbs.

Arm length: 30 1/8″

Hand size: 9 1/8″

 

Athletic testing

40-yard dash: N/A

10-yard split: N/A

Vertical jump: N/A

Broad jump: N/A

Bench press: N/A

3-cone drill: N/A

Short shuttle: N/A

 

Strengths

Ideal frame and good length. Rarely thrown at in coverage. Ballhawk that gets tremendous jumps and will bait quarterbacks on short throws. Very instinctive in underneath zone coverage. Will not just get his hands on a pass but will also take it the distance. Outstanding ball skills. Gliding overall speed. Very quick reacting to passes in front of him. Easy movement skills for cover transitions in zone coverage. Very smooth and confident in off coverage. Great burst to trigger from the backpedal. Fluid opening to cover vertically both when giving a cushion and in the press. Blankets receivers with the ball in the air. Effective getting a hand in at the catch point. Confident face guarding on the intermediate level with his back to the quarterback. Shows aggression and accuracy on jams. Very strong reach on contact that seems to knock opponents off their route. Plenty of experience at both left and right cornerback. Saw some snaps in the slot. Better coming in to tackle when supported by teammates. Shows some physicality hitting along the sideline.

 

Weaknesses

More of a projection based on heavy usage in cushion zones. General questions about mirror skills in man coverage. Not as effective playing the ball down the field. Needs to be wary about double moves. Too often beaten vertically. Had some trouble with slot fades. Lacks strength as a tackler. Would like to see him hit more accurately and strike through opponents. Needs to be better bringing down opponents in space.

 

NFL comparison

Darius Slay Jr.

 

Conclusion

Overall, Johnson is a smooth, instinctive cornerback with cover talent, playmaking ability, and ideal size. The best fit at the next level will be in a zone-heavy defense where he can keep his eyes on the quarterback and look to jump routes underneath.

 

Big Board ranking: #23 | Positional ranking: #4