The 2023 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Antonio Johnson 2023 NFL Draft Profile.
Position: Safety
School: Texas A&M
Size: 6-foot-2, 198 pounds
Class: Junior
2022 Stats: 71 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 pass defended, 3 forced fumbles
Johnson proved to be extremely versatile for Texas A&M over three seasons. Now he is in the 2023 NFL Draft.
As a four-star prospect, Johnson decided to sign with Texas A&M in the class of 2020. In four games played during the 2020 season, Johnson registered 14 total tackles and one pass defended. He took on a starting role in 2021, notching 79 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, one interception and five passes defended that season. His play helped the Aggies go 8-4 and make the Gator Bowl. In the 2022 season, Johnson had 71 total tackles, five tackles for loss and one pass defended. While he played solidly, Texas A&M struggled with a 5-7 record.
Following the season, Johnson decided to forego the rest of his collegiate eligibility and enter the 2023 NFL Draft. He is currently projected to be a day two pick.
Johnson has good size for the safety position. He stands 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds, which are both above the average for the position. His frame already supports good play strength. In addition to his strength, he has decent arm length at 32 and an eighth inches, which helps him match up with big receivers and tight ends.
He is extremely versatile as well. Johnson has the ability to play nickel corner or in the box as a safety. When offenses put big receivers in the slot, he is able to match up with them. He also has all the tools necessary to play close to the line of scrimmage as a box safety.
What helps him be a good box safety is his ability to help stop the run. He shows decent awareness and play diagnosis to go find the football. Johnson has good pursuit to track the ball carrier down. Once he is in position, his long arms help him wrangle ball carriers. He can take them down with a good form tackle to complete the play.
While he is versatile to play nickel corner or as a box safety, Johnson should not be used in single-high coverage. He lacks the range necessary to cover that much ground. His NFL defensive coordinator will need to make sure he is in the best position on every play given his skillset.
Johnson needs to improve his ball skills for the next level. He had just one career interception and seven passes defended in his collegiate career. Johnson can show better anticipation and can attack the catch point better. There are times when he plays for the big hit on receivers instead of playing the ball, leaving some production on the table.
His hips are pretty tight for a defensive back. This gives him trouble in man coverage, as he has to make transitions to stay with receivers. He loses ground when he makes the transitions and doesn’t have the greatest recovery speed to make up for it. Johnson can take away routes near the line of scrimmage, but asking him to turn and cover deep in man-to-man can give him problems.
Projected Draft Range: Second Round Pick-Third Round Pick
Draft Grade: Second-Round Pick
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