Positional ranking: #11

Big Board ranking: #60

 

Overview

Position: CB

College: Kentucky

Class: Senior

Age: 21

 

Measurables

Height: 6’1 7/8”

Weight: 213 lbs.

Arm length: 32 5/8”

Hand size: 9 1/8”

 

Athletic testing

40-yard dash: 4.52 sec.

Vertical jump: 38.0”

Broad jump: 129.0”

Bench press: 15 reps

3-cone drill: 7.01 sec.

Short shuttle: 4.10 sec.

 

Strengths

Prototypical frame with impressive athletic profile. Long and physical. Fluid hips. Excellent change-of-direction skills for his size. Explosive. Works back to the football in coverage. Great closing burst on plays in front of him. Effective in press coverage. Shows flashes as a tackler and flies to the ball when he’s able to diagnose. Confident and versatile. Usually doesn’t get handsy with the ball in the air. Experienced in zone coverage. Played both sides of the formation and spent some time in the slot. Should be able to make a significant impact on special teams coverage. Overcame adversity growing up in a rough neighborhood.

 

Weaknesses

Needs to refine his technique. Allows too much separation at the top of the route. Receivers simply run by him too often. Can be caught flat-footed both in coverage and against the run. Instincts aren’t great. Overall processing is a little slow. Only recorded one interception in two years at Kentucky.

 

NFL comparison

Aqib Talib – He has a long way to go, but Lonnie Johnson’s size, length, and athleticism compares favorably to Talib, who really turned into a star after a handful of years in the league.

 

Conclusion

Overall, Lonnie Johnson has all the traits to be a great press-man cornerback, but he’s more of a projection than the other potential targets early on. However, if a team affords him time to gain experience and he’s coached up well, Johnson could eventually develop into a shutdown option on the outside.