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Analyst: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is best safety in upcoming NFL Draft
By Andrew Olson
Published:
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.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
