Brandon is a fluid, athletic, tall OLB who shows the ability to play well in space. He is very aware in pass coverage and has all the tools to develop into an outstanding pro rush OLB. He may be the best pass-defense OLB for this draft this side of Spencer Havner. He is not really a standup-drive back tackler, but he has good footwork and excellent technique. No one on the Louisville roster helped himself more for the 2006 NFL draft with the total performance from 2005 than Johnson, and YES, that includes Dumervil's outstanding year. He is a warrior who has plenty of room to grow and should be drafted on day two with the fine repeat performance he put up in 2005, and he may even slip into day one of the 2006 NFL draft with his solid post-season workouts. He ran much better than expected at the combine, turning in a sizzling 4.44 and measuring in at just a shade shy of 6'5". He has bulked up this past year some, but he will still need to add about 10-15 pounds of muscle to be considered an every-down linebacker at the next level, but he has everything else you are looking for.
(photo courtesy of University of Louisville athletics)
2008 Draft Review
