2020 NFL Mock Draft: Tennessee Titans use PFF’s draft study
By Will Lomas
Round 2, pick: Jaylon Johnson CB, Utah
PFF’s historical data of finding a starter at CB in round 2: 40.1% (vs 75.3 in the 1st, 27% in the 3rd, and 22.4% beyond that)
It felt like an obligation to take offensive tackle and cornerback in the first two round, but this pick was very easy for me.
Johnson is sort of a perfect fit for what the Tennessee Titans like in a cornerback, especially the version of the Titans defense that we saw last year. When he comes on the field you have a cornerback with long arms that rarely gets bullied who can play on the boundary and stick with stronger receivers like DeAndre Hopkins.
I wish he played more in the slot so I could see him travel around or so that you could see how fluid he could be in space, but honestly the Titans don’t need a perfect projection as long as they know that they can get someone to stick with bigger guys while Malcolm Butler and Adoree Jackson figure out who works best in the slot.
What will really excite Titans fans is going back and watching Johnson play off coverage and do a great job of reading the QB and the throw while still seeing the receiver. There are several plays where he instantly makes a decision on where he can see the ball is going and it leads to an interception, a pass break up or a quick tackle and we know those are all things that the Titans liked about Adoree Jackson coming out.