5. Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah
Height: 6’0″ Weight: 193
40-Yard Dash: 4.5 seconds
Bench Press: 15 reps
Vertical Jump: 36.5 inches
Broad Jump: 124.0 inches
3-Cone Drill: 7.01 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.13 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: For a while in high school, it was a toss-up as to whether Johnson would focus entirely on his potential as a point guard in basketball, but he decided to commit to a future in football as a highly-regarded receiver and defensive back. He originally committed to USC, backed out over a coaching change, and then chose Utah over offers from Michigan and Oklahoma. In three seasons with the Utes, Johnson totaled 102 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, 28 passes defensed, and seven interceptions.
“Confidence, swagger, toughness, you name it,” Johnson said, when asked the mentality required to play press-man coverage. “It’s just about having kind of that dog mentality and having that will to win and just always wanting to compete and get better and kind of just impose your will on the receiver.
“I would prefer man, just because we played more man at Utah and that’s just what I’m used to and accustomed to doing. I have no problem playing zone. I make plays in zone coverage as well, but I’m used to playing man more.”
Stat to Know: In 1,258 coverage snaps over three seasons for the Utes, Johnson allowed just three total touchdowns (two in 2018, one in 2019) and never gave up an opponent passer rating larger than 57.6 (2018).
Strengths: Johnson is another scheme-diverse cornerback, with the ability and experience to play in both zone- and man-heavy systems. But he also brings to the table some alignment diversity. Utah was not afraid to put him in the slot, and that could make him valuable in the eyes of NFL decision-makers. Johnson is also a willing player in run support, who is likely to help set the edge, stack a blocker and scrape off to help on the tackle. Johnson can be violent and explosive with his jams at the line of scrimmage. He got into Laviska Shenault on one play in Utah’s game against Colorado and barely let him release into his route. Johnson also has the quickness to recover if he gets beaten on a move. He does not panic when tasked with zone coverage, he will continue to read the quarterback’s eyes and click-and-close in an instant.
There is also this:
This critical Pick Six flashes that click-and-close ability, but consider what Johnson told Pro Football Focus after the play: “For me, this is just big film study…it was something I watched all week.” Johnson seems to be a student of the game, and his work in the film room is going to be huge for him going forward. That is something he highlighted in this very insightful discussion with Erik Turner of Cover1.net.
Weaknesses: Johnson is sometimes almost too patient, letting receivers get the better of him out of breaks and relying on his ability to close or drive on routes to make a play on the football. That will work on Saturdays, but it might not work on Sundays. While he can be violent when in press coverage as discussed, his footwork as well as his technique with his hands could use refinement. Johnson relies on brute force rather than solid technique. His hips are also a bit stiffer, and he is not as fluid a mover as the other two corners above him in this group. Something that was reflected in his slower three-cone drill.
Conclusion: Johnson might lack some of the polish and fluidity of Okudah and Henderson, but he offers pro-ready traits with even some room for improvement. His ability to play in a variety of coverage schemes is a plus, as is his experience in handling routes from the slot. Given that teams might view him as undersized (according to Mockdraftable.com his physical profile is basically middle of the pack) he could find a role in the slot, even with his change-of-direction issues. But Johnson’s work ethic off the field, his physicality at the line of scrimmage and his play-making ability are going to make him a difference-maker wherever he lines up.
Comparison: According to Mockdraftable.com, Johnson is almost a perfect match for cornerback Kendall Sheffield, who was drafted in the fourth round by the Atlanta Falcons last year out of Ohio State. In terms of his play style, Johnson reminds some of William Jackson III, the current Cincinnati Bengals’ cornerback. Like Johnson, Jackson was also known for his ability to click-and-close on a route breaking in front of him.