After taking Maxx Crosby, the Oakland Raiders go get another high ceiling athlete in Houston cornerback Isaiah Johnson.
The Oakland Raiders continue to address the needs of their defense by going back to the secondary at pick #129 taking Isaiah Johnson out of Houston.
A wide receiver turned cornerback, Johnson is extremely raw as a player, but the upside is high which seems to be the theme for the Raiders in day three of the draft. Johnson is 6’2 and 208 pounds and is one of the biggest cornerbacks in the entire draft but is still pretty fluid in his hips. And just like his new teammate Johnathan Abram, Johnson is one of the better trash talkers.
His combination of size and speed (4.40) is definitely worth a risk, but the coaching staff will have to best at its best to develop him into a capable starter.
Why this pick doesn’t make sense
I personally am not a fan of Johnson because watching him I don’t see a natural feel for playing the position. It is understandable that he would be raw in terms of technique, but having natural footwork is essential, and I’m not sure Johnson has that.
He also seems more suited for a Seattle cover 3 style of defense which could help hide his lack of footwork and press technique. A guy like Amani Oruwaryie from Penn State seemed like a better fit for the Raiders. However, when you have someone with Johnson’s measurables, it is easy to see why he was selected. This is a pick that would make Al Davis very proud.
How He Helps the Team
I’m not sure Johnson will be able to help that much as a rookie considering how raw he is, but if the Raiders can massively develop his feet and overall technique he could be a legit starter down the line. Though with the team already having Gareon Conley, new second-round pick Trayvon Mullen and Daryl Worley playing on the outside it will be hard to get Johnson on the field to develop.