Evan Johnson CB BYU |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #0 ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.37 seconds (90%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jersey: #0 | |
| ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | |
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.37 seconds (90%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
79.9 / 100
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
|
73% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 50.7 | |
| Tackling: |
|
64% |
| Run Defense: |
|
68% |
| Coverage: |
|
78% |
| Zone: |
|
70% |
| Man/Press: |
|
80% |
|
DRAFT PROJECTION:
7th
Overall Rank:
#237
Position rank:
#50 (DB)
|
||
| College Games: 37 College Snaps: 1483 | ||
247 RATING: 81/100
|
||
| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nehemiah Pritchett - Auburn |
|
90% |
| Deantre Prince - Ole Miss |
|
89% |
| Greg Newsome II - Northwestern |
|
89% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Evan Johnson never played defense in high school. A receiver and sprinter at Robert Louis Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California, he won Central Coast Section titles in the 100 and 200 meters and signed with BYU in 2022 as a low-rated three-star recruit. His father, Ron, played receiver in the NFL.After seeing little action in his first two seasons, Johnson made four starts in 2024 with two interceptions. He started all 14 games in 2025, tying for the Big 12 lead with five interceptions and adding eight pass breakups. He picked off two passes against East Carolina, returning one for a touchdown, and sealed the Pop-Tarts Bowl win over Georgia Tech with another.
Johnson came back for a fifth season in 2026, earning preseason second-team All-America honors from SIS. He has moved inside to play mostly in the slot and has one interception. He was listed out with an undisclosed injury for the Arizona State game on 31 October.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Rare speed for the position, a former sprinter who can carry any route vertically
- Proven ball skills, with five interceptions in 2025 including a pick-six against East Carolina
- Versatile enough to play outside or in the slot, where he has moved in 2026
- Technically sound and patient at the line, rarely opening his hips too early
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Notre Dame targeted him 12 times and he allowed six catches for 111 yards
- Man coverage has been a weakness this season, allowing 10 of 17 targets
- Slight build leaves him vulnerable to bigger receivers and to blockers in the run game
- Missed the Arizona State game with an undisclosed injury, adding a medical question
- Still raw in run support after converting to defense only in college
Scouting Report: Summary
Johnson is a fast, ball-hawking corner who has turned himself from an unheralded recruit into one of BYU's most important defenders. His speed is rare, he attacks the ball at the catch point, and his five interceptions in 2025 changed games, none more than the pick-six against East Carolina.However, 2026 has been tougher. The move to the slot has exposed him in man coverage, Notre Dame went after him repeatedly for 111 yards, and his light frame shows up against physical receivers and in run support. He also missed the Arizona State game with an undisclosed injury.
Overall, Johnson's speed, ball production and ability to play outside or in the slot will earn him a long look. He projects as a priority free agent nickel who must contribute on special teams to stick.
How other scouting services rate Evan Johnson (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
186.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
44.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.