Instant Takeaways: Packers select Iowa State safety Anthony Johnson Jr.

With the 242nd pick and their third in the seventh round alone, the Green Bay Packers selected Iowa State safety Anthony Johnson Jr. Here are my instant takeaways from the pick and what you need to know.

– Safety was considered a pressing need but the Packers didn’t address the position until Round 7. I know this likely comes as a surprise, but i don’t believe that it should, and there are two reasons why. One is that this was not a strong draft class at the position. There was little high end talent and depth, not to mention that many of the top options played more in the slot than as a traditional safety, further reducing the number of viable prospects. The second reason is that Brian Gutekunst prepared for this during the offseason. While, yes, you can say that upgrades at safety are needed, the Packers at least have options with Rudy Ford, Darnell Savage, Tarvarius Moore, Dallin Leavitt, and Innis Gaines. Rasul Douglas could become an option as well once Eric Stokes returns from injury.

– This doesn’t only apply to the safety position but to the draft in general, don’t check a box just to say you checked a box. In most instances, trying to address the safety position early on would have been doing that.

– Alhtough we can reason why the Packers didn’t take a safety until late in the draft, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t uncertainty. Matt LaFleur said following the completion of the draft that things would remain very fluid at that position and only time would tell when it comes to how things will play out.

– Johnson has good size at 6’0” – 205 pounds and recorded a Relative Athletic Score of 8.13 with a 4.54-second 40 yard dash and elite numbers in the vertical and broad jump.

– For his first four seasons at Iowa State, Johnson was a boundary cornerback. It wasn’t until the 2022 season that he moved to safety. Johnson would play 258 snaps lined up in the box and another 245 from the slot.

– In coverage he allowed 19 completions on 29 targets at 12.4 yards per catch with two interceptions and two pass breakups. He was a very willing run defender, ranking 26th out of 200 eligible safeties in PFF’s run stop rate metric, although missed tackles were an issue at times.

– Johnson also has 386 career special teams snaps. He is a developmental player, still learning the safety position. If he is going to make the 53 man roster, special teams is likely his best path.

– After the draft, Gutekunst referenced Johnson’s high character as one of the reasons the Packers wanted to bring him in.

– NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote this in his pre-draft report when discussing Johnson’s game:

"“Cornerback turned safety with good athletic traits for the safety position and rare physicality from a former cornerback. Johnson has grown into a safety’s frame but is versatile enough to play near the line of scrimmage or line up over the slot. He moves fluidly with good play speed but is still processing angles and coverage responsibilities at his new position. He will come downhill and hit anything near the line of scrimmage with everything he’s got, but he needs to learn to control his aggression to become a more consistent tackler. Johnson’s traits, versatility and toughness give him a chance to become a starting safety or nickel safety.“"