3 defensive sleepers for the Vikings in the 2021 NFL Draft

Jamar Johnson – DB (Indiana)

Jamar Johnson is being criminally underrated in this draft class after a stellar college career with Indiana.

The defensive schemes at Indiana under Tom Allen were not simple by any means, yet they were one of the best units in the nation this past season. The secondary stood out for a team that nearly pulled off an undefeated season and an upset win over Ohio State. The leader of Indiana’s secondary was none other than Johnson.

Johnson is going to be labeled as a defensive back rather than a safety or a cornerback for now because it’s still unknown where he will play at the next level, which is a testament to his versatility and experience.

He showed up in every big game for the Hoosiers last season while playing all over the secondary. Johnson can line up deep as a safety, in the slot, or even as a box defender with the ability to blitz and cover. He was used similarly to how Minnesota uses Harrison Smith in their defense.

Johnson finished his final season at Indiana with 42 tackles, four interceptions, and a forced fumble. Two of his interceptions came against Justin Fields, one of the premier quarterbacks in this year’s draft class.

While Johnson may be tough to place into the defense right away, his versatility can go a long way for a team searching for contributors on that side of the ball. Why not add a chess piece and figure the rest out later?