Washington Redskins 2018 season cornerback grades
By Ian Cummings
Danny Johnson
For a rookie, there’s always going to be a learning curve. For an undrafted rookie who does enough to make the roster, then has to play over 100 snaps due to injuries, the curve gets fairly steep.
Danny Johnson‘s learning curve was a steep one in 2018. The Southern product made the team with fast, active defense in preseason. It helped that Johnson provided some ability as a returner, but in coverage, he showed flashes of the ball skills that made him a legend at Southern, and despite his slight frame, he was kept on the roster as cornerback depth.
Depth, however, soon became a regular appearance in the lineup. Due to injuries, Johnson would play on defense in six games, and he’d start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The results made it clear that Johnson wasn’t meant to be more than depth, at this point in his career. According to Pro Football Focus, on 50 coverage snaps on the year, Johnson was targeted 13 times, allowing 12 catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns, synthesizing into a passer rating of 154.3.
Johnson’s grade in 2018 won’t be good, but the undrafted rookie did what he needed to do to last another season: He passed. Now, in 2019, Johnson must look to improve, and hone his skills. There’s a reason the Redskins kept him around. While Johnson is limited from a size perspective, he has talent. He just needs time to tie it all together.