2023 NFL Draft: Why the Jaguars Drafted Antonio Johnson

The hard-hitting defensive back is set to play safety for the Jaguars.

Leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft, it would have been hard to find anyone who viewed Texas A&M safety Antonio Johnson as a Day 3 pick who would go outside the top 150 selection.

But, just like every year, the draft brought surprises. For Johnson, it meant him sliding all the way to No. 160 before the Jaguars pulled the trigger in the fifth round. And for the Jaguars, Johnson's slide meant a potential boon as they landed a safety and special teams prospect they have tracked closely throughout the draft process.

While Johnson spent much of his college career in the slot, Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke made it clear that he is a safety first and foremost in Jacksonville -- a potentially impactful one, too.

"He's in the slot a lot, but he's a safety in how they play the defense. He wasn't man covering a lot of people in the slot. He dropped down, more of a box-type guy," Baalke said.

"But, again, there's a high character, tough guy, great tackler. And a really good teams guy. He's been a core four guy his whole career there. Looking forward to him as well, getting in here and competing with that group."

One of the top defensive back recruits in the 2020 class, Antonio Johnson earned a lot of accolades on his way to committing to Texas A&M. An East St. Louis native, Johnson was ranked by 247Sports as the No. 4 safety prospect in the country, while also ranking as the No. 78th prospect nationally and the top prospect in Illinois.

Johnson received 25 offers out of high school, with programs such as Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin before ultimately committing to Texas A&M.

Johnson played in seven games and started one as a true freshman in 2020, recording 14 tackles and one pass breakup. He entered 2021 as a starter, starting all 12 games and winning the team's Defensive Playmaker Award, recording 79 tackles, five pass breakups, one interception, one sack, one forced fumble, and 8.5 tackles for loss.

Johnson finished his college career as a second-year starter, recording 71 tackles, one pass deflection one interception, one sack, and five tackles for loss.