Overview
Position: Safety
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 191 pounds
School: Miami Hurricanes
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.69 seconds
Bench press: 18 reps
Vertical jump: 33.0 inches
Broad jump: 10 feet, 1 inch
Jaquan Johnson 2019 NFL Draft Profile
Even before he set foot on a college campus, Jaquan Johnson boasted a great deal of experience having made the Miami Herald’s All-Dade first-team four straight years during his time at Killian High School. Extensive interest from major programs followed with him rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN, Scout, and 247Sports. Ultimately, he felt that embarking on a collegiate career close to home was the route for him to take as he gave his pledge to Miami.
Johnson saw action in all 13 games as a true freshman, contributing primarily on special teams. But in a limited role at safety, he was able to haul in an interception and force a fumble. His first chance to start came during his sophomore campaign and he didn’t disappoint. He did just about everything on the field, tallying 1.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, two pass breakups, an interception, and a fumble recovery.
His final two seasons with the Hurricanes saw Johnson become an integral part of the secondary. He started every single game he played in and led the team in tackles both years, totaling 188 stops in that time. As a junior, he intercepted four passes and was a semifinalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. And he closed out his college career earning second-team all-ACC honors after finishing with 92 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, 1.5 stops for loss, and even a blocked field goal on special teams.
Strengths
- takes efficient angles to the ball-carrier;
- covers ground like a MIKE linebacker;
- a reliable wrap-up tackler;
- displays leadership qualities teams look for;
- dishes out a great deal of physicality for his size;
- stays focused when attacking downhill, restricting cutback lanes;
- an intense competitor who galvanizes teammates;
- brings special teams value to the table;
- saw consistent action in all four years of college, making 29 starts.
Weaknesses
- won’t be able to allay concerns about being undersized;
- body might have issues holding up against NFL-level physicality;
- short arms might inhibit ability to win in contested catch situations;
- could be limited to work as a sub-package defender;
- play speed doesn’t jump out on film;
- a bit of a late arriver when covering over the top;
- lack of size could preclude him from making an impact as a box safety;
NFL Comparison: Terrence Brooks
Teams With Need at Position: Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins
Projection: Fourth to fifth round
Bottom Line
Johnson brings quite a bit of experience to the table having received significant starter-level reps at both high school and college level. He’s a type-A personality and the type of player who’ll inspire his teammates to go into battle with him. On the field, he plays with an aggressive, physical demeanor and tracks ball-carriers like a heat-seeking missile. And his tackle numbers as a junior and senior highlight how sound he is at bringing players down once they’re in his grasp.
One of the biggest knocks on Johnson centers on his physical traits as he’s far from the tallest safety prospect. And given these size concerns, can he continue to play as physical as he did in college given the power he’ll see at the next level? His play speed might also be a bit of an issue which showed up during the Combine as he ran a 40 that ranked in the 11th percentile. All those weak suits might serve to limit his ceiling.
There’s no doubting Johnson’s intangibles. That much is certain given the leadership he demonstrated for his Miami squad. And there are elements of his skill set that hint at him eventually developing into a starter in the NFL. Concerns over height and overall length likely push him into day three of the draft. But that could classify him as a possible late round steal.
