Eight analysts discuss what Dolphins are getting in 27th pick Chris Johnson
What analysts are saying about San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson, the Dolphins’ pick at No. 27 in Thursday’s draft, in a trade up with San Francisco that sent picks 30 and 90 to the 49ers for selections 27 and 138:
▪ ESPN’s Mel Kiper: “He’s an ascending player -- 6-0, 193 pounds, ran 4.43 at the Combine with 31 inch arms. He has the length you look for. When you come into the NFL, some of these college kids are heavily penalized because they can’t locate the ball and panic a little bit at the end of the route. He doesn’t.
“Footwork is very good. He was a very willing participant in run support. Very sound tackler. The way he made plays on the ball on a consistent basis, you’ve got to love it. Boise State game, he had six solo tackles and a pass breakup.
“He was outstanding against Cal; had a pick six and another pass breakup in that game. He kept getting better and better. And to run the 4.4 with the length he has,... he was a guy you were hearing gain momentum in the late first round.”
▪ NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah: “They take a very physical corner, really well put together, strong. Think about Tre’Davious White and how long he’s played in this league and how instinctive he was in his prime. You see a lot of similarities there with Chris Johnson. The ball skills are excellent; he is not a knock-it-away corner. He is someone who will find it and take it the other way.
“Physical presence when he comes up to tackle; coach [Jeff] Hafley is going to appreciate it.
“Senior Bowl, when we were there, I thought it was a little up and down, but he was very competitive. At the Combine, he ran faster than people expected, and seeing the guy in shorts, he’s a strongly built dude. He’s versatile enough to line up at multiple spots in the secondary, perhaps even at safety. He is a stud.”
▪ ABC’s Nick Saban: “Thirty-four completion percentage against him. Six picks, three-year starter. This guy can play the ball in the deep part of the field. This guy is a good player. Has toughness, position flexibility. Can play star, play outside. This is a really good player.”
▪ ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit: “He’s coming out of a system where he’s put on an island a lot. Favorite athlete is Jalen Ramsey. The big thing is he’s got great instincts. He can run. He can play man. He can play zone. You can trust him without always having to put a safety over the top.”
▪ ESPN’s Louis Riddick: “He likes to be real aggressive in the short to intermediate game. Real good instincts. Once he gets the ball in his hands, he’s a threat to take it to the house. He ran a lot faster than he looked on tape.
“When you are talking about pick 27, this is good value, a position they need. He has all the measurables and has got some ball skills.”
▪ NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said Johnson, who had four interceptions last season, is a “scheme-versatile cornerback prospect with average size and the ability to play inside or outside. Johnson is consistent in mirroring the release from his pedal and rarely labors when transitioning with route breaks. While many college corners lean on lax officiating to grab and maul, Johnson stays disciplined.
“He trusts his footwork and technique to remain tight to the route. He attacks the catch point with run-through force and is a tenacious wrap-up tackler who can quickly end plays. Big receivers can steal some high-points, but not enough to cause concern. Johnson’s coverage versatility, toughness and athleticism should make him an early starter for a coverage-hungry team.”
▪ ESPN’s Jordan Reid, who mocked him 20th: “Johnson is an ascending prospect about whom multiple sources have raved to me over the past few weeks. He shot up the board through the predraft process.”
▪ ESPN’s Matt Miller, who mocked him 29th: He’s “a fast, long-limbed cornerback with the tenacity to consistently win fights for the ball.”
