Draft Profile: Mike Johnson

NAME – Mike Johnson

Position – Guard/Tackle/Center

College – Alabama

Status – Redshirt senior, earned degree in consumer affairs and has taken graduate school classes.

Size/Weight – 6-5¼, 312 pounds.

Important numbers – 5.37 seconds in 40-yard dash, 21 reps on bench press, 25-inch vertical jump, 7-feet 7-inch broad jump.

Age – 23.

Honors – First-team All-America selection and first-team All-SEC in ‘09 … second-team All-SEC in ‘08 … voted team co-captain by his teammates … named co-MVP for Alabama offense with Heisman Trophy winning running back Mark Ingram. 

College career – After a redshirt season to begin his time with the Crimson Tide, Johnson averaged about 10 snaps a game during that next season, most of that on special teams. But come the ‘07 season, Johnson had a spot in the Alabama starting lineup, one that he did not relinquish for the next three seasons. By the end of his career, he was one of the best offensive linemen in the country and earned a national championship ring in the ‘09 season with Alabama.

Stats of note – 54 games/41 consecutive starts, starting 26 at left guard, 12 at left tackle and 3 at right guard.

STRENGTHS – Very aware and reads defenses quite well … sets up quickly in pass protection and seldom gives up penetration … one he locks on a block he’s seldom discharged by the defender … very smart with good football IQ … a knee bender, with an excellent motor.

WEAKNESSES – Not nimble a foot and lacks great athletic ability … struggles when asked to play in space … not very physical in his blocking … sometimes gets sloppy with his footwork and fundamentals, especially when blocking for the run game.

THE RIGHT 53? – Versatility is part of the equation that the Chiefs are looking for and Johnson fills that role, having started at three different positions along the line during his college career. He’s got a high football IQ and he has a strong work ethic; molded by Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban, a favorite of Scott Pioli’s. He did not miss a game over his college career.

What he said – “There’s no doubt playing under Coach (Joe) Pendry (Tide O-Line coach and former Chiefs offensive coordinator) has given me an edge. I’ve asked him a bunch of questions about his time in the NFL and about players he had. He’s given me a lot of tips.”

End game – Johnson’s resume of versatility and durability, plus the level of competition that he played over 54 games will help shoot him up the draft charts, probably into the third round.

ON THE CHIEFS LIST? – His Alabama pedigree will give him more chips in the Chiefs pile, but his lack of quickness and foot speed doesn’t fit with what Todd Haley wants to see from his interior linemen, i.e. more mobile blockers. Johnson would be a third or fourth-round name to consider.