Seventh Round: Packers Take Corner-Turned-Safety Anthony Johnson

Anthony Johnson went from starting cornerback to starting safety at Iowa State.

GREEN BAY, Wis – The Green Bay Packers addressed what seemed to be one of their biggest needs with their second-to-last pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, selecting Iowa State safety Anthony Johnson.

With a hole at safety with their veteran starter and leader, Adrian Amos, unsigned in free agency, Johnson is an interesting prospect with a considerable history at cornerback before moving to safety for his final season.

“Thought the opportunity to put Ant back there was a huge opportunity for us to solve an area we thought was a weakness a year ago,” coach Matt Campbell said early last season. “What’s happened and what’s transformed from it, it’s allowed us to be totally different on defense.”

It was an easy decision even so late in his career.

“I was all-in from the get-go,” he told The Des Moines Register. “Once I had the meeting with Campbell, and I got some feedback from scouts − I’m like, ‘Man, I’m all the way in.”

He added: “I pride myself on being able to play any position in the back end. It’s something they’re looking for, especially in today’s game.”

Johnson allegedly was flying up the draft board but was taken 242nd overall. Nonetheless, his ability to play corner, slot and safety was appealing.

“It helped me a lot just with the coverage aspect of going against top outside receivers, who are typically more well-rounded in their routes and stuff like that,” Johnson said at pro day of the transition. “To be able to cover the slots, who usually have speed, it was great for me.”

Johnson started 54 games in four seasons, including all 50 appearances during his final four years. He had two interceptions for his career- both in 2022 – and 30 passes defensed.

Measureables: 5-11 5/8, 205 pounds, 8 3/4 hands. 4.54 40, 4.31 shuttle, 37.5 vertical, 8.13 RAS.

Stats and accolades: Johnston spent four years at cornerback before shifting to safety for his final season. He was second-team all-Big 12 with two interceptions, six passes defensed and one forced fumble. A 54-game starter over five seasons, Johnson’s career totals include two interceptions, 30 passes defensed, five forced fumbles and 14 TFLs (seven in 2019).

Analytical stats: According to Pro Football Focus, of 88 safeties who played more than 580 snaps, he ranked 40th in passer rating allowed (84.8) and 65th in missed-tackle percentage (13 misses). He lined up in the slot 20 percent of the time, 12th-most according to Sports Info Solutions’ top-32 safety prospects, and ranked 54th of 78 with 1.20 yards per slot coverage snap, according to PFF. His hand-on-ball percentage (interception, deflection, forced fumble, fumble recovery) of 1.2 percent ranked 14th of SIS’s top 32.

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