Anthony Johnson NFL Draft Scouting Report

CB, Virginia Cavaliers

Anthony Johnson started his collegiate career at Louisville where he appeared in 32 games while starting five before transferring to Virginia ahead of the 2021 season. He became a two-year starter for the Cavaliers’ defense.

Johnson provides an attractive skill set for defenses that employ a zone-heavy coverage scheme. He offers elite length to go with strong ball skills and coverage instincts. He thrives when he can play off, cue the backfield, and work into throwing lanes. Johnson has appeal in press coverage where he is effective at using his length to create jams at the line of scrimmage with powerful strikes and good body control. He is more than willing to use his rangy frame to crowd releases and cap routes quickly, taking receivers off the menu for the opposing quarterback. Johnson’s length also shows up at the catch point where he is highly disruptive and showcases strong ball skills. He is above average at locating and breaking on the football. Johnson has good speed and more quickness than expected for a taller corner.

Johnson is likely to have the scheme-specific label and teams that want to run high amounts of man coverage may not see him as an appealing option. He is high-hipped and works through some tightness when flipping his hips and transitioning. His change of direction skills can be a touch segmented and there will likely be some matchup restrictions against twitchier route-runners. Johnson has a tendency to be grabby at the top of routes and as plays elongate, leading to questions about his athletic confidence. There are false steps present in press coverage and when transitioning, which takes away from his quickness.

For a zone-heavy defense, Johnson has the makeup of a starter while providing the size and competitive toughness necessary to be an asset on special teams. 

Top Reasons to Buy In:

• Length and zone coverage instincts
• Outstanding ball skills
• Physical and competitive

Top Reasons For Concern:

• Stiffness and modest quickness present challenges in man coverage
• Needs to develop cleaner footwork to maximize change of direction efficiency 
• Has a tendency to be grabby

Size (NFL Combine):

Height: 6′ 2”

Weight: 205 lbs

Arm Length: 32 5/8”

Hand Size: 8 5/8”

Athletic Testing (NFL Combine):

40-yard Dash: 4.63s

Vertical Jump: 30.5”

Broad Jump: 9′ 8”

Short-Shuttle: TBD

Three-Cone: TBD

Bench Reps: 15 reps 

Ideal Role: Developmental outside corner

Scheme Fit: Zone-heavy defense where he can cue the backfield and stay leveraged 

Prospect Comparison: Rasul Douglas (2017 NFL Draft) 

TDN Consensus Grade: 74.00/100 (Fourth-Round Value)

• Marino Grade: 74.00/100

Written By: Joe Marino

Exposures: Notre Dame (2021), Georgia Tech (2021), Pittsburgh (2021), Syracuse (2022), Illinois (2022), Miami (2022)

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