Tae Johnson S Notre Dame |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #9 ROLE: Man Slot/Nickel Safety | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.50 seconds (73%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #9 | |
| ROLE: Man Slot/Nickel Safety | |
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.50 seconds (73%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
86.3 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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77% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 63.5 | |
| Tackling: |
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89% |
| Run Defense: |
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83% |
| Coverage: |
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89% |
| Zone: |
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83% |
| Man/Press: |
|
87% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
1st - Late
Overall Rank:
#30
Position rank:
#6 (DB)
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| College Games: 14 College Snaps: 636 | ||
ESPN RATING: 81/100
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247 RATING: 92/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Antonio Johnson - Texas A&M |
|
95% |
| Tyler Nubin - Minnesota |
|
90% |
| Lewis Cine - Georgia |
|
89% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Tae Johnson was a receiver and basketball player at North Side High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he caught 139 passes for 2,286 yards and 41 touchdowns over four seasons. He was a consensus four-star athlete, ranked No. 58 nationally by Rivals, and committed to Notre Dame in June 2023.Johnson began his college career at cornerback, but a fractured fifth metatarsal in his left foot late in 2024 camp required surgery and limited him to three games, and he redshirted. He moved to safety during his recovery and became a starter early in 2025, playing in 10 games with eight starts. He made 48 tackles and led the team with four interceptions, including two against Boston College and a 49-yard pick-six in the win over Pitt, and he returned a blocked punt for a touchdown against Texas A&M. He was an FWAA Freshman All-American and the Walter Camp national defensive player of the week, and a hand injury cost him the Syracuse game.
Johnson started the 2026 opener against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, but he injured his left foot in the first half and did not return. Marcus Freeman said he would miss a couple of weeks, and at the end of September he was still expected back soon, but he has not played since the opener. Freeman has credited his work ethic for his rapid rise.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Ball-hawking instincts produced four interceptions in his first season at safety
- Sure tackler, with only two missed tackles in 2025
- Reads route concepts from depth and drives on the throw
- Good speed to carry the deep middle and close on throws
- Took a pick 49 yards for a touchdown against Pitt
- Scored on a blocked punt return against Texas A&M
- Former receiver with natural hands at the catch point
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Has not played since injuring his left foot in the 2026 opener
- Second significant foot injury after a fractured metatarsal in 2024
- Only one season of starting experience at safety
Scouting Report: Summary
Johnson burst onto the scene in 2025, pairing ball-hawking instincts that produced four interceptions with one of the cleanest tackling records in the country, with only two misses. He reads route concepts from depth, drives on throws and plays the ball like the receiver he was in high school, and he took a pick to the house against Pitt and scored on a blocked punt against Texas A&M. For a player in his first season at the position, the production was remarkable. He also earned Walter Camp national defensive player of the week honors in 2025.The traits are what make him a first-round candidate. He has the speed to cover the deep middle, the hands to finish plays and the willingness to come downhill and tackle, and he was named an FWAA Freshman All-American after just one season at safety. Marcus Freeman has credited his work, saying he knows he is gifted but has put in the effort to match.
However, his availability is now the central question. He hurt his left foot in the first half of the 2026 opener and has not played since, two months after Notre Dame said he would miss a couple of weeks. That follows a fractured fifth metatarsal in the same foot in 2024 that required surgery and cost him most of his freshman season, and a hand injury that cost him a game in 2025. He also has only one season of starting experience at safety, and his man coverage against bigger tight ends is still developing.
Overall, Johnson is a rangy, instinctive safety with rare early production, and the foot will be the first item every team examines. He projects as a first-round safety on talent, with the ceiling of a playmaking starter if he returns healthy. Having played receiver and basketball in high school shows in his ball skills and body control.
Update - 11/03/2026
Johnson has played one game this season. He injured his left foot in the opener against Wisconsin and is ruled out against Navy. Marcus Freeman expects him back in November, though not for the Miami game on 7 November.
How other scouting services rate Tae Johnson (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
28.6
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
6.0
*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.