One Late-Round Safety Lions Should Target in 2023 NFL Draft

Why Memphis safety Quindell Johnson is a good fit for the Detroit Lions' defense.

The Detroit Lions have invested in improving their secondary throughout the offseason. 

Lions general manager Brad Holmes has brought in three talented players to help add depth at the cornerback and safety positions. Cameron Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and C.J. Gardner-Johnson will add plenty of talent to the defensive backs position group. 

The Lions will also have Kerby Joseph and Tracy Walker III returning at safety, giving them two capable starters alongside the new additions. 

Depth has been an issue in recent years, though. Holmes and company could benefit from adding another player in the 2023 NFL Draft in the secondary. 

Sure, the team has more pressing needs. Should the Lions address other areas earlier in the draft, Memphis' Quindell Johnson is a player who could be of good value as a late-round pick. 

Considered to be a sleeper pick in this year's class, Johnson is a ball-hawk who also has the ability to fill run lanes and deliver big hits. 

He's not the biggest defender, checking in at 5-foot-11. But, he still manages to pack a heavy punch. He posted 68 tackles in 2022, earning second team All-AAC honors. 

His biggest impact, though, was in the passing game. He picked off four passes in 2022, and totaled 10 in his career. 

Memphis safety Quindell Johnson  / Petre Thomas, USA TODAY Sports

"A versatile player, Johnson has appeal in coverage as a single-high defender, split-zone safety, and even in man coverage," wrote Joe Mariano, in his profile of Johnson for The Draft Network. "He is a smooth and fluid athlete that has good anticipatory skills in coverage. There is a natural way about how he sharply processes route combinations and puts himself in position to leverage routes. Johnson is an eager run defender with an aggressive downhill trigger. He is an excellent tackler that rarely comes up empty due to taking consistently sound angles, wrapping up, and his competitive toughness."

Johnson was elite in coverage during his final collegiate season. He allowed a completion percentage against him of just 59.7 percent, and held opposing quarterbacks to an NFL passer rating of just 63.7, per Pro Football Focus. 

The former Memphis Tiger is undersized, which has led to concerns about this production carrying over to the professional level. 

He demonstrates good instincts, though, which are tough for even the best coaches to teach. He also is versatile, which would make him an asset for Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. 

Last season at Memphis, Johnson played a total of 743 snaps on defense. He played 163 snaps as a box safety, 291 as a free safety and 281 as a slot cornerback. 

This scheme adaptability is a trait the Lions have desired in their secondary. The prospect has a nose for the ball -- similar to what Joseph offered in last year's draft -- and remember, Joseph turned out to be an excellent addition. 

Detroit evolved defensively over the second half of the season, and began to turn opponents over more often. By adding Johnson, the team would get another player capable of carrying on that trend.

Holmes struck gold by selecting EDGE rusher James Houston in the sixth round of last year's draft. Johnson is a player who could offer the same type of reward in 2023.