Five 2023 NFL Draft prospect the Jaguars must keep an eye on

No. 4 prospect the Jaguars must keep an eye on: Antonio Johnson, S

Safety was one of the few position groups the Jaguars didn’t address this offseason and it seems like they will go with Andre Cisco and Rayshawn Jenkins as the starters. The former showed promise as a rookie and has a high ceiling while the latter should bounce back after having a down year. But if Jacksonville wants to upgrade their safety room in 2023 they should keep an eye on Texas A&M’s Antonio Johnson.

The Aggies standout is the highest-ranked safety on Pro Football Focus’ board, earning an 87.4 overall grade last season. Although he’s previously lined up in the slot, he will play safety full-time in 2022.

If Johnson keeps playing at a high level in 2022, he could become a top 10 draft prospect. At 6’3″ and 200 pounds, he has top-notch athleticism and the size to be an asset against the run.

Johnson can also drop in coverage. Last year, he was targeted 62 times and gave up a mere 228 yards (3.7 yards per target). Also, he logged 79 total tackles, 85. tackles for a loss, five passes defensed, and one interception. If that wasn’t enough, Auggies head coach Jimbo Fisher has praised his versatility and has described him as a “chess piece” in his defense.

Cisco is poised to have a breakout season in 2022 but if he doesn’t or Jenkins isn’t able to rebound, Johnson then becomes a realistic target in next year’s draft.