The Houston Texans have selected cornerback Kevin Johnson out of the Wake Forest as the 16th pick in first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. The three-year collegiate starter posted terrific Combine numbers, which helped his draft stock. Houston will hope he picks up where he left off during his senior season, when he allowed just 24 completions in 12 games and earned second-team All-ACC honors.
NFL draft results 2015: Kevin Johnson drafted by Texans
One of the league’s best defenses from 2014 figures to get even better with its first-round selection.
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Despite his thin frame, the 6’0, 188-pound corner totaled 44 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss in 2014. He makes up for his lack of size with a sneaky strength for his build, and he showcased his world-class leaping ability at the Combine with a 41.5-inch vertical, second-best among all cornerbacks. He added a 10’10 broad jump to illustrate why he was tasked by shadowing opponents’ best receiver while at Wake Forest.
Although his 4.52-second 40 time was merely average, his performance in the 3-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle were near the top of his position group, showing he has the ability to change directions quickly.
Johnson figures to be an immediate contributor on special teams as a gunner, but could find himself a starter with some improvement in key areas. He has to play up to the line of scrimmage more often as he tends to give too much of a cushion to deep threats. In the NFL, that could pose a problem given the relative speed compared to the college game.
Still, his ceiling is high given his pure cover skills and raw talent. With the right coaching staff and situation, he could develop into an effective player at the next level.
As far as the Texans are concerned, the transition to play one of the most difficult positions on the field will be smoother than normal with J.J. Watt wreaking havoc on opposing signal callers. Houston already boasts a formidable defense that will only get stronger with the ball skills Johnson brings to the table.
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