Pro Football Focus has regarded him a blue chip, sure fire first round prospect for well over a couple years. With the Illini, he comprised one half of what was known as “The Law Firm” and Newton & Randolph. Yes, Keith Randolph and Johnny Newton were arguably the most dominant DT pairing in the nation during the 2022 season, when they helped lead the Illini defense to the lowest points per game allowed average.
The 2022 Illini started the season with a “no name defense” (just like the legendary, perfect season 1972 Miami Dolphins, who had that moniker bestowed upon them by the iconic Tom Landry).
Throughout the season, individual stars emerged, like Devon Witherspoon, who was taken fifth overall by the Seattle Seahawks in last year’s draft and made the Pro Bowl. Witherspoon’s position groupmate, safety Sydney Brown, had an excellent season with the Philadelphia Eagles, who selected him in the third round this past April.
Given their team needs, Johnny Newton is next, and the Ravens would be an ideal landing spot for him. Suppose you peruse the hundreds (or right now, it feels more like thousands) of NFL mock drafts online. In that case, you’ll see a defensive lineman, or more specifically, a defensive tackle, mock the Ravens.
It is arguably their most extensive team need. And Newton, just like Witherspoon and Brown, brings something extra to the table. He was once recruited and coached by Lovie Smith. While yes, the Lovie experiment in Champaign failed, Smith still has NFL chops when it comes to defenders.
Smith’s career is undoubtedly a downturn now, but he is still one of our generation’s better defensive minds (at least on the NFL level). He knows how to find and then coach up defensive linemen.