Antonio Johnson's versatility could serve the Jaguars well
Every now and then, you ask yourself "how?" How was it possible for this type of player to have still been available that far into the draft? One lazy Sunday morning this fall, Jaguars fans could be thumbing through highlights on their smartphones and asking themselves that about defensive back Antonio Johnson. Johnson was selected […]
Every now and then, you ask yourself "how?" How was it possible for this type of player to have still been available that far into the draft?
One lazy Sunday morning this fall, Jaguars fans could be thumbing through highlights on their smartphones and asking themselves that about defensive back Antonio Johnson.
Johnson was selected by the Jaguars in the 2023 NFL Draft in the 5th round with the 160th overall pick. Johnson has been pegged by multiple draft preview outlets as an athletic specimen whose strengths lean more towards being a willing, physical, and able tackler. At first glance, that makes him an intriguing prospect as an in-the-box run-supporting safety.
However, Johnson's fluidity and athleticism have drawn rave reviews from some draft analysts, who believed him to have been a much higher prospect than he ended up being, as least as far as draft placement.
Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell agrees with the sentiment of Johnson being a versatile defender. He mentioned Johnson being capable of playing multiple positions while addressing the media last week.
With Antonio, it's just a matter of finding – he can do a lot of things – just finding what we want him to do. So we're trying him at multiple positions. He's able to play the nickel, play safety. Just whatever package we want to put him in or whatever he is able to handle. He has a skill set to do that. And then we're just excited about it and continue to see him progress through camp, and once we get the pads on to see how it goes. And, you know, just go from there. –Mike Caldwell via Jaguars YouTube channel
If Johnson plays some inside at nickel, then the Jaguars would have the benefit of having what amounts to basically an extra safety on the field closer to the line of scrimmage, which suits Johnson's strengths to a T and gives the Jaguars an extra sure-fire tackler on the field. Or he could see some time at safety in early down/running situations.
Either way, he gives Caldwell a flexible chess piece to move around the field in different looks. And it will give Johnson the ability to prove that the looks that he didn't get from the other 31 teams were huge mistakes.
Featured image via Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
