2020 NFL Mock Draft: Las Vegas Raiders Select CB Jaylon Johnson at No. 19

With the 19th pick of the 2020 DBN Community NFL Mock Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders select...

Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah

The selection and write-up were made by jdreyfuss:

Having grabbed a number 1 wide receiver earlier in the round, the Raiders now pick up a number 1 cornerback. Johnson is a Gruden Grinder in the classic mold. Good size and adequate athletic measureables, with tape that shows a player who takes coaching, works hard, and plays above his talent. He flew under the radar, due to a non-traditional program and a poor showing at the combine, but he has been moving steadily up draft boards since.

His size and athletic profile would suggest a zone corner, but his tape shows a natural man cover player with fluid hips, fast feet, and excellent anticipation. He can play press or off man. He has good awareness in space, and knows where the chuck line is when he jams. He will occasionally out-think his instincts, which leads to choppy transitions or anticipation mistakes at the top of routes. He can be too willing to allow a catch and tackle in place on lateral routes. He has average at best zone instincts and will be a liability playing a deep third in cover 3, at least at the beginning of his career.

Pokorny: “After the Raiders made their previous pick of a wide receiver, I advocated them taking a cornerback with their other pick, so I like the pick. I know quarterback can be tempting, but I wouldn’t throw the towel in on Derek Carr just yet.”

The Jacksonville Jaguars are up next, led by Schnapppi.