With their sixth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills selected Miami safety Jaquan Johnson. Johnson is a tone-setter in the locker room who was a team captain for the Hurricanes. Extremely passionate, Johnson will endear himself to coaches and fans with his exceptional personality.
Johnson’s mindset is first-round caliber, but physically he doesn’t match up to NFL prototypes. The safety stands 5’10” and 191 lbs, with short arms and small hands. He ran a 4.69 forty yard dash and had a 33” vertical leap at the Combine—not great results for a defensive back. He did lead the Hurricanes with 96 tackles this season, a testament to good tackling technique and instincts. The hope here is that his football intelligence and intensity will upgrade his ceiling despite any physical limitations.
For now, Johnson’s destination is on special teams. His open-field tackling technique should make him an effective punt gunner. In the sixth round, you want players who can lock a spot on the roster, preferably through special teams. Johnson will fit that role, and he has the passion to grow into a leader in the locker room. I can’t argue with that choice by the Bills.