Buffalo Bills: A rapid reaction and grade of the Jaquan Johnson pick
The Buffalo Bills had one sixth-round pick and chose to take a safety from Miami. Although the Bills are deep at defensive back, you can never too many.
Defensive back is arguably the deepest position on the Buffalo Bills roster.
Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer may be the best safety duo in the league and Tre’Davious White is a budding superstar outside. Levi Wallace will have competition for the second cornerback slot with Taron Johnson, E.J. Gaines and newly signed Kevin Johnson.
All that being said, the Bills decided to add another guy… Jaquan Johnson out of the U.
By not addressing the wide receiver need, this pick can be looked at as a disappointment. I believe this is a #TrustTheProcess kind of guy and he will fit in Buffalo.
Prospect Analysis
Johnson plays the safety position like a linebacker, which is much different than we have seen recently in Buffalo. He shows great instincts when stopping the run and tackles very well for being undersized. Johnson also showed some high football IQ by rarely getting caught out of position and reading the opposing quarterback.
He tested poorly at the combine and then tested worse at his pro-day which definitely contributed to his slide into the sixth round. I had him rated as a fourth through fifth-round pick.
Projection
Johnson is never going to be a starter for the Buffalo Bills as a safety. He does not have the ball skills you look for and won’t cover enough ground to lock up the deep zones.
He will have to transition to nickel corner to find playing time. Kicking him inside to the slot will cut down coverage space and allow him to be a factor in the run game.
Year one, he will have to be a beast on special teams to find a spot on the roster. He has the tools and the awareness to get it done and I think he will stick in Buffalo.
Next. A rapid reaction and grade of the Vosean Joseph pick. dark