The Houston Texans selected Kentucky cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr. with the 54th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Johnson is raw from a technical standpoint, but he has the physical tools of a long-term starter. The six-foot-two, 213-pounder has 32 5/8-inch arms and ran a solid 4.52 40-yard dash. With a long wingspan, he is able to break up deep passes pretty well. He can jab receivers pretty well at the line of scrimmage, and he has pretty fluid lateral movements.
His motor runs hot and cold, and his instincts in coverage need some work. However, Johnson’s physical tools make him an enticing project at the point in the draft.
Houston needed some more young pieces for their secondary, and Johnson will provide that for them. How well he does in his rookie season is anyone’s guess, but he has the potential to be very good down the line with some development.
