One small school prospect that has made the rounds to more teams than almost any other pro prospect is Trumaine Johnson out of Montana. Teams seem to covet his versatility in the secondary as well as his athleticism. Charlie Campbell of Walter Football has Johnson heading to the Chiefs in the second round of his latest mock for the 2012 NFL Draft.
He writes, "The FCS-standout Johnson has an excellent combination of size and speed. The 6-foot-2, 204-pounder has unique physical tools and consistent production. He became a starter as a true freshman and recorded four interceptions. Despite missing four games in 2009, Johnson had five interceptions with 12 passes broken up and 54 tackles. He had four interceptions with seven passes defensed and 44 tackles in 2010. "
Johnson would certainly help bolster the Chiefs secondary after injuries took their toll on Eric Berry and Kendrick Lewis. Both hope to come back in 2012 healthy and ready to play, but the injuries exposed a thin secondary at safety where players like Sabby Piscitelli earned significant playing time. That’s not a good sign.
The Chiefs also lost Brandon Carr to the Dallas Cowboys in free agency this season. While the team signed Stanford Routt, it makes sense to add another young impact corner. Routt’s deal is a three-year deal, but it could easily be shortened if Johnson comes along, yet Routt’s presence also gives Johnson time to adjust to the competition level of the NFL.
The Chiefs struck gold once on a small school corner with Carr from Grand Valley State and Johnson could be the next find. He’s already visited with the Chiefs, so they will know the product well and Campbell likely has a very solid guess at this point in the second round. Other positions could be addressed, but someone who can be versatile in the secondary could be an asset more coveted than others.