One big reason the Jacksonville Jaguars are in a position to win the AFC South for the second year in a row is that they've built a stout defense. Their secondary, in particular, is stacked with playmakers such as Antonio Johnson, who's one of the best safeties in the league.
Johnson is coming off a banner season and is entering a contract year. If the former Texas A&M Aggie once again has a huge impact for the Jags, he may leave in 2027. A recent mock draft predicts that's precisely what's going to happen.
The Jaguars take Tae Johnson to replace Antonio Johnson in SI's mock draft
Justin Melo of Sports Illustrated did a first-round mock draft for 2027. He had the Jaguars taking Notre Dame safety Tae Johnson at No. 16, arguing that he could replenish the position and potentially replace Antonio Johnson.
"Notre Dame safety Tae Johnson put first-round stuff on tape last season," Melo wrote. "The flexible Fighting Irish defender notched 48 tackles and four interceptions. The Jacksonville Jaguars have multiple safeties on expiring contracts, including starter Antonio Johnson."
For the sake of context, Johnson is Jacksonville's only safety who's entering a contract year. Eric Murray still has one year left on the deal he signed in 2025, although he could be a cap casualty. Caleb Ransaw and Rayuan Lane III are sophomores, and Jalen Huskey was a third-round pick in this year's draft.
With that out of the way, drafting Tae Johnson would most likely mean that Johnson left in free agency. This is a realistic scenario when you take into account that there are no reports about the Jags engaging in contract talks with him. If he does leave, Ransaw or Huskey would be the first in line to replace him. In fact, Jacksonville might have drafted them knowing that Johnson could leave. On paper, this is a sound strategy.
If Johnson leaves in free agency, Ransaw and Huskey will have one season to learn the ropes. On the other hand, the fourth-year safety is a pivotal piece of the Jaguars secondary, so the team's brass should make a strong effort to retain him even if it doesn't come up cheap.
A fifth-round pick in 2025, Johnson manned the slot as a rookie. He registered two interceptions and one forced fumble. The East St. Louis, Illinois native switched back to his familiar safety spot in 2024 but was benched. He was in the bottom half of the depth chart last year but managed to turn things around under defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile.
With Campanile leading the defense, Johnson posted a career-best five interceptions and was the highest-graded safety in the NFL last year. If he has another banner season, he will be in a position to command premium compensation.
Just recently, fellow safety Derwin James signed a three-year deal worth $76.5 million. Johnson could surely aim for a contract in that range. This is where drafting Tae Johnson becomes an option.
Would it make sense for the Jaguars to draft Brauntae Johnson?
Just recently, Tae Johnson asked to be referred to as Brauntae, his official name, going forward. Knowing that, he would most definitely be a choice in the first round next year. Dan Brugler of The Athletic ranked him as the second-best safety of the 2027 class because of his range and instincts, two of Antonio Johnson's best traits.
On the other hand, the Jags could have bigger needs than safety in 2027. Specifically, the offensive line and the interior defensive line could use upgrades. When you take into account that they also have Jalen Huskey and Caleb Ransaw in the mix, safety may not be a priority on Day 1 of the draft.
In the end, losing Antonio Johnson would sting, but Brauntae Johnson would definitely be an intriguing replacement. Having said that, the Jaguars will have enough roster flexibility that they'll be able to address other positions.
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