2017 NFL Draft Kansas City Chiefs Scouting Report: John Johnson

There isn’t much need for the Kansas City Chiefs to get a safety. However, John Johnson of Boston College may be a good enough player to take anyways.

The Kansas City Chiefs are not in need of a safety in the 2017 NFL Draft. After new contracts for Eric Berry and Daniel Sorensen, the position looks set for the foreseeable future. However, that doesn’t mean the Chiefs won’t still look at talent at safety. John Johnson of Boston College may be someone worth taking for KC.

The Chiefs have four safeties on their roster signed through the next couple of years. That gives them a pair of starters, both very good, a situational guy in Daniel Sorensen, and a depth player in Eric Murray. All in all, that is a good position to be in.

However, the Chiefs have shown us in the past that they are not afraid to add talent to positions that don’t seem like they need it. The KC roster is built on competition, and this year shouldn’t be any different. If John Dorsey likes a safety late in this draft, he may very well pull the trigger on him.

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This year’s draft class at safety isn’t overly impressive. However, there are a number of intriguing players who can be had in the middle and late rounds. If the Chiefs do add a safety, that’s where they would do it.

John Johnson – S – Boston College

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NFL scouts have a special appreciation for guys who make their presence known on the field. That’s what John Johnson did in his four years at Boston College. Though he never garnered conference honors, Johnson was steadily productive in his time in college. Johnson has been a steady presence throughout his career.

John Johnson’s versatility is the first thing that stands out, having played all over the secondary. Excellent quickness to keep with shifty wide receivers. No wasted motion in his footwork. Quality ball skills with an aggressive mindset to make a play. Johnson was a quality Special Teams player who made his presence felt.

The biggest negative I have on John Johnson is his lack of long speed. Won’t be able to cover a lot of ground in the NFL. Not aggressive enough against the run to step in at strong safety. Versatile experience is a plus, but prevented him from getting a true feel for any one spot. Coverage techniques will need some work.

I like John Johnson a lot as a potential addition to the Chiefs. While he wouldn’t be starting for KC, he could be a very valuable backup and Special Teams player. On top of that, he’s got the tools to play several different positions. That is a very good tool to have on the depth chart.

The job that John Dorsey has done for the Kansas City Chiefs is really starting to pay off. The Chiefs are in a position to draft players based purely on talent, rather than worrying about position. That is a huge advantage. Kansas City will have a lot of freedom to pursue quality players in this year’s draft.