2019 NFL Draft Prospects: Safeties - Jaquan Johnson, Miami
This former four-star recruit from the Miami area was a special teams demon for the Hurricanes as a true freshman. After earning five starts the following year, Johnson broke out as a junior, being named second-team All-ACC as a turnover-machine with four interceptions, two forced fumbles and another one recovered. That led to him being named the team’s most valuable player from the safety spot. Last season he repeated that second-team all-conference feat despite missing two games with a hamstring injury, as he recorded a couple of INTs and forced fumbles each.
Ahead of the 2018 season I had Johnson as my number one college safety, but other guys emerged and I now have to evaluate him as a future pro. With that being said, I still am a big fan of the former Hurricane standout. At 5’9”, just over 190 pounds Johnson fills the hole when it opens up and when the coaches straight up moved him into the box as a linebacker he looked like one of those guys outweighing him by several pounds.
Johnson is an elite run-defender from center field as well as around the line of scrimmage and shows no fear of taking on bigger bodies as they try to block him. In general he just buries his shoulder into the opponent with the ball and tries to knock it loose. Johnson shows no regard for anybody when there’s a pile to run into. That guy always sets the tone and was the source of energy for this Miami defense, approaching collision as if he was a 250-pound linebacker.
While Johnson can cover deep and was used some times in a single-high role, he was at his best in that robber role for the Canes, where he could consistently punish receivers for trying to go over the middle. He tracks the eyes of the quarterback and is not afraid of letting receivers run by him.
Johnson made an incredible one-handed interception versus Virginia Tech in 2018. On the few snaps he had in man coverage against slot receivers or tight ends he was extremely physical and held them up off the snap. He recorded a passer rating of just 44.1 when targeted in coverage.
Johnson is a great finisher, whether that it making a secure tackle or sticking his hand in-between the paws of a receiver if he can’t turn around for the ball. He was awarded a top five tackling grade by Pro Football Focus and missed just five of his 97 tackling attempts in 2018. I don’t know how, but this dude always seems to be around the football.
For as effective a tackler Johnson was, sometimes he wants to take somebody’s head off so badly that he forgets that he has arms to wrap up and misses some tackles due to it. There are not too many 190-pound safeties in the league who run 4.69 as was the case for him unfortunately.
I don’t think Johnson has the range nor that his hips are good enough to play the deep middle at the next level. While his skill-set would indicate a potential move to nickel, at 5’10” with sub-30 inch arms there are definitely some question marks as to who you can match him up with in that role, especially since there is some tightness in his lower body.
Johnson had a really solid all-around week at the Senior Bowl in coverage and run-support. He would probably be at his best in two-high safety based defense, where he can either focus on the space between the hashes and numbers as well as driving on routes underneath, roll into the flats or act as a robber.
Johnson has always won with grit and hard work over athleticism and measurements, but at some point as a pro prospect, these come into the equation. I think he will earn the respect of coaches through his work on special teams and get to play some role for a defense.
Grade: Fourth Round