Chauncey Gardner-Johnson was the first Florida player to declare early for the 2019 NFL Draft, but he’s not projected to be the first UF player selected. Considering Gardner-Johnson’s highlight tape as a multi-year starter for the Gators, you could say he’s flying a bit under the radar as a prospect in the upcoming draft. That’s the opinion of NFL Draft expert Jonah Tuls, who recently evaluated Gardner-Johnson’s film from a Dallas Cowboys perspective for Cowboys Wire.

“When you combine Gardner-Johnson’s athleticism, coverage traits and production in both man and zone from nearly each spot in the secondary with his improved consistency and physicality as a run defender, I believe he is the most polished and NFL-ready safety prospect in this 2019 draft class, pound for pound,” Tuls writes. “As a result, he ranks as the top safety on my board, and the only safety prospect in this class of which I have given a first-round grade.”

There’s a catch. While Tuls gives Gardner-Johnson a first-round grade, he expects teams to give a different grade.

“I fully believe Dallas is a potential landing spot at 58, as I believe I will be higher on him than other NFL teams,” Tuls writes.

With the NFL Scouting Combine and Pro Day still on Gardner-Johnson’s calendar, the departing Gator will have a chance to convince more teams he is worth a first-round pick.