Grading the Steelers 2021 Draft Class (Part 2) By Itz JustNoah on May 15, 2021, 9:05pm EDT +
Buddy Johnson / LB / Texas A&M
Grade: A
There s a lot to like about Johnson. At 6 2 and 240 pounds he has pretty good size for the position, his athleticism is apparent on tape, and he proved it at his pro day with a 4.57 40 time (5th among draft eligible linebackers) and a 4.03 shuttle time (2nd). As a run defender, Johnson uses incredible play recognition and natural instincts to fly to the ball carrier. His pass coverage isn t on the same level as his run defense but he s pretty good in zone coverage at shadowing guys underneath and reading the quarterback s eyes. And he has the athleticism to man up on tight ends when asked to do so. I wasn t overly happy with this pick at first but after looking at his tape it s easily one of my favorites. I think there s a good chance that he s the starter by the end of the year and I m excited to see him and Bush play together.