5 cornerbacks the Vikings could select in the 2019 NFL Draft
By Nik Edlund
Isaiah Johnson (Houston)
- Size: 6-foot-2, 208 pounds
- 2018 Stats: 66 Tackles, 2 Interceptions, 5 Pass Breakups
Johnson is a talented but raw cornerback prospect. He’s only played the position for a couple of years after transferring from the offensive side of the ball where he was a wide receiver. Johnson has nice rangy limbs but also has a thick upper body. He is quite intimidating looking out there on the field.
Johnson has above-average ball skills. He times his jumps well and attacks the receiver just as the pass is hitting his hands. Johnson is solid in run support and closes in on ball carriers in the blink of an eye.
There really is no way around it, Johnson is a raw pile of talent that needs to be molded. There is no better defensive back sculptor in the league than Mike Zimmer. He can take this guy, and teach him the nuances of the position and help him realize and reach his potential much earlier than other coaches would be able to. This could be a perfect situation for the Vikings. They wouldn’t need Johnson to help out much his rookie year, and he could basically have a year to watch and learn. In year two he could be ready to see the field more and be the team’s third or fourth corner depending on what happens with Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander’s contracts.
Johnson could end up being a solid pick in that Round 4 area for the Vikings but they may not see a return on that investment until the 2020 season.