Texas A&M star safety Antonio Johnson mocked as first round selection in CBS' newest update

As the NFL offseason draws closer, the excitement and hype for the NFL Draft grows larger. The NFL Draft is one of the largest sports events of each year, and due to some top notch recruiting and development, Texas A&M fans are often seeing Aggies get chances at the next level.

In the 2023 NFL Draft, there is a trio of recently former Aggies hoping to hear their name called. But there is one who might be hearing it quite early. Texas A&M defensive back Antonio Johnson is receiving lots of praise in the months leading up to the draft.

In fact, recently, Pro Football Focus ranked Johnson as the No. 2 safety prospect in this years draft pool. He was ranked only behind Alabama’s Brian Branch.

To go along with that, as of Sunday, February 12, Antonio Johnson is being mocked to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

In CBS NFL and college football expert Tom Fornelli’s first mock draft of the season, he projected the Buffalo Bills select Antonio Johnson with the 27th pick of the first round.

Although he has Johnson going 27, he has the former Aggie as the No. 14 prospect in the 2023 draft class, meaning it is highly possible Johnson goes higher, but elected to meet team needs and fit rather than best available prospect.

Johnson appeared in 28 total games in his three seasons for Texas A&M, starting over 20 of them. At defensive back, Johnson was responsible for 164 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, eight pass deflections, four forced fumbles, two sacks, and interception. He was truly a do-it-all player. 

In 2022, his junior season, Johnson tallied 71 tackles and five tackles for loss in nine games. He also forced three fumbles. 

Johnson, a former four-star prospect, signed with the Aggies in the 2020 class. He was rated as the No. 59 overall prospect and No. 2 safety prospect in the nation.

What Fornelli had to say about Johnson

Some teams will look at Antonio Johnson and have no idea what position he plays. Others will look at him as a guy who can play anywhere. It’s an eye-of-the-beholder situation, as the Aggies played Johnson at safety, in the slot, and occasionally at linebacker. A good defensive coordinator can figure out all sorts of ways to use him.

More on the 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft takes place from Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The event location this year is the plaza just outside of Union Station.

Round 1 of the NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 27. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 28, and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 29. The draft broadcast runs throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility. One hundred underclassmen gained approval for last year’s draft. Seventy-three of those 100 underclassmen received special eligibility while 27 of them were underclassmen who had completed their college degrees.

The 2023 NFL scouting combine will take place from Feb. 28 through March 6 in Indianapolis.