NFL two-round mock draft: March 25, 2019

NFL two-round mock draft: March 25, 2019

Seth Trachtman

10 hrs ago

58. Dallas Cowboys: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S, Florida

Dallas already flirted with signing Eric Berry, but he hasn't signed on the dotted line yet. A productive ballhawk at Florida, Gardner-Johnson had nine picks in three seasons and also had 71 tackles last season.

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Darnell Savage are very similar as players. Both can cover and tackle well but have a slight difference in size and speed.



Chauncey Gardner-Johnson: 6', 0", 208, 4.49 40 yd dash.




Darnell Savage: 5', 11", 201, 4.36 40 yd dash.

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Darnell Savage, Jr. are Earl Thomas types of players that can also cover, shed run blocks and lay the wood. Difference, aside from 1 inch in height and 8 pounds in weight (advantage Gardner-Johnson), is that Savage looks to be a slightly harder hitter and definitely quicker and faster.

Per College Football Reference, Darnell Savage Jr. stands at 5-11 and weighs in right at 200 pounds. In his last three years at Maryland he played in 35 games. He averaged 56.67 tackles, 2.67 interceptions (3.5 per season over his last two seasons and four in his senior season), and three tackles for loss over his final three seasons. He had eight pass deflections as a junior and two more as a senior.

I’m a fan of CGJ...58 might be a little rich, but if we don’t take him there he likely won’t be around in the 3rd.

I think he’s a better player than Savage. Not quite as rangy, but more well rounded.

Like most players his highlights look great and NFL.com ranked him the third best safety with a grade of 5.90. My only concern is a comment about his instincts.

Overview
Big, athletic defensive back who requires tape study from 2017 and 2018 assess his optimal usage. Some teams will see him as a big slot defender who can blitz, support the run, handle zone duties or play man on big receivers and matchup tight ends. Others will see him as a Cover-1 high safety with the range and ball-tracking to take it away over the top. Gardner-Johnson is too often a step behind in his reads and reaction allowing completions that could be breakups. His versatility and talent could make him an early starter with a high-ceiling if he can put it all together.

https://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker/prospects/S?college=allColleges&page=1&status=ALL

cnuball21 said:

I’m a fan of CGJ...58 might be a little rich, but if we don’t take him there he likely won’t be around in the 3rd.

I think he’s a better player than Savage. Not quite as rangy, but more well rounded.

Click to expand...

There is a better chance Savage will be there in the 3rd than CGJ in the 2nd. So what to do? Take CGJ if he's there? How much better is he? If the answer is not by much, then I'd wait to the 3rd for Savage.

I love Garner-Jonhson. I'm a Florda fan and he's been one of my favorites over the last couple seasons. He's a player.