The 2023 NFL Draft is just days away as the next generation of stars looks to hear their names called in Kansas City. Among them is Texas A&M‘s Antonio Johnson, but where do the experts and analysts predict he’ll be drafted come this weekend?
The general consensus is that the Texas A&M safety will land somewhere in the second round, with his best-projected rank coming at No. 22 overall in the first round. While it’s clear that Johnson boasts a talent level that is reminiscent of a first-round prospect, external factors (e.g. teams moving up for a quarterback) could force him to slip into day two.
Below are a few of his projected landing spots and teams, as well as our breakdown and analysis.
- Round 1, Pick No. 24 – Jacksonville Jaguars (Sporting News)
- Round 1, Pick No. 26 – Dallas Cowboys (Fantasy SP)
- Round 1, Pick No. 27 – Buffalo Bills (Fantasy Pros)
- Round 1, Pick No. 28 – Cincinnati Bengals (Sporting News)
- Round 1, Pick No. 30 – Philadelphia Eagles (The Game Haus)
It’s fitting that a handful of mocks have Johnson being selected late in the first round, as his tangibles (6-2, 198 lbs, 32 1/8″ wingspan) coupled with his physicality make him one of, if not, the top safety in this year’s draft class.
But given that he excels primarily close to the line of scrimmage in that nickel corner spot, questions likely arise as to which position he’s best suited for long-term. Nonetheless, if any of the aforementioned teams above manages to pick him up in the second round, they could be getting one of the premier steals of the entire draft.
The Jaguars and Cowboys present intriguing situations in which they both have postseason expectations each year, yet there remains room for growth as they look to make a leap to the next level. Jacksonville ranked 28th in pass defense in 2022 (238.5 YPG allowed) while ranking 15th in yards allowed per pass completion (11.1).
Throwing Johnson into the slot could give the Jaguars an ample boost of physicality, while their 12th-ranked run defense (114.8 YPG allowed) would take a major leap given the former Aggie’s strength in providing run support.
As for America’s Team, the Cowboys did re-sign Donovan Wilson (a former Aggie nonetheless) which means their trio of Wilson, Jayron Kearse, and Malik Hooker will return in 2023, but drafting Johnson could give Dallas a younger option for the future.
Cincinnati (23rd) and Buffalo (15th) both have secondary units that can improve when it comes to their pass defense, so adding Johnson to their positional groups would allow him to develop in year one, while also likely playing deeper into the postseason.
The reigning NFC Champion Eagles are an interesting landing spot, as the departure of C.J. Gardner-Johnson through free agency could provide a door for Antonio Johnson to walk through and get meaningful snaps, en route to becoming a fulcrum of their defense for years to come.
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