B/R’s Matt Miller compares Lonnie Johnson to Baltimore Ravens legend
It’s that time of year again, where NFL Draft prospects are given pro-player comparisons, and Kentucky’s Lonnie Johnson got likened to a Ravens legend…
The 2019 NFL Draft has some highly coveted cornerbacks who could hear their names called early in the process. Names like Greedy Williams and Byron Murphy expect to be day one selections, but others like Rock Ya-Sin and Deandre Baker could also be early selections. However, Lonnie Johnson has had himself quite a rise throughout the draft cycle.
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Johnson, a senior at the University of Kentucky, is now being universally thought of as a round two target. Considering his size (6’2″ 213-lbs.) and length, as well as his high-level of play in 2018, Johnson seems to have himself quite a large ceiling.
So large, in fact, that Matt Miller, lead NFL Draft analyst for Bleacher Report, compared Lonnie Johnson to a Baltimore Ravens’ legend, Chris McAlister.
As many Ravens fans know, McAlister was an instrumental piece in the historic Baltimore Ravens 2000 defense. McAlister, a three-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time All-Pro, was the team’s no.1 cornerback who simply shutdown half of the field. His frame is very similar to that of Lonnie Johnson’s (6’1″ 210-lbs.), and his silky smooth coverage skills should have fans salivating over his potential.
In his breakdown of Johnson, Miller had plenty of positive things to say about the young man:
"Johnson has all the physical tools coaches and scouts look for; he has simply lacked production and consistency. With good coaching, there is no doubt those will come. If Johnson can learn to turn and locate the ball and provide any kind of support in the run game, he is a Pro Bowl-level talent. —Matt Miller"
Obviously, Miller believes that this ceiling is more than attainable, considering the lofty comparison he gave him. After all, McAlister could get inducted into Canton someday as a Hall of Famer, albeit not any time soon.
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Reaching that kind of potential would be huge for Lonnie Johnson, and there’s no reason to believe that he can’t one day. Considering he already has elite traits concerning his body-type and athleticism, all that’s left to do is refine his technique. If he can do that, Johnson could find himself in conversations regarding the league’s best cornerbacks. If Johnson ever reached the potential Matt Miller has in mind for him, we could see Chris McAlister reborn inside of young Lonnie Johnson.
Full article from B/R’s Matt Miller here.