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Jaguars Find Potential Antonio Johnson Replacement in 2027 NFL Mock Draft
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- Jaguars Find Potential Antonio Johnson Replacement in 2027 NFL Mock Draft
Athlon Sports' Luke Easterling makes a great point about the Jacksonville Jaguars in his latest mock draft : The Jaguars don't have many weak points that need upgrading. The premier positions, QB, LT, CB, WR, and EDGE rusher, are all pretty shored up. Even the secondary positions like running back and linebacker are above league average.
General manager James Gladstone has done a good job giving Liam Coen and company some good groceries to cook with in his first two years. Now, it's about sustaining that early momentum and building on it, as players continue to excel in the teal and black.
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With Antonio Johnson hitting free agency next season and the Jaguars already $14 million over the cap, Easterling found a potential replacement for the former fifth-round safety.
Round 1, Pick 28: Brauntae "Tae" Johnson, Safety, Notre Dame
Notre Dame safety Brauntae JohnsonAustin Hough, USA TODAY Sports
For the past few seasons, we have seen top talents at safety fall due to the positional value of safety play against the other premier positions I listed above. However, with the Jaguars fully stocked at those premier positions, the next best thing is to find secondary pieces who can make a difference today, and Notre Dame's Tae Johnson is one of those.
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At 6'2", 200 pounds, Brauntae "Tae" Johnson is a rangy safety who can do it all. He can range from sideline to sideline in the back end; he can come down in the run game and eradicate a ball carrier; he has fantastic instincts in coverage and has the versatility to cover both wide receivers and tight ends in man, while also making life difficult for an opposing passing game in zone.
It wouldn't surprise me if Tae Johnson ends up being some people's top safety prospect over guys like Georgia's KJ Bolden.
What Does That Mean for Antonio Johnson?
Nov 2, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars safety Antonio Johnson (26) tackles Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) during the second half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
There is still the idea that Johnson could come back for the Jaguars, and they utilize the first-rounder for something else, like a starter on the offensive line. However, given Johnson's ability and expectations of him having another solid-to-good year in Jacksonville's secondary, he won't reset the market, but he could ask for Cam Bynum-to-Grant Delpit-kind of money on the open market.
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That could range anywhere from $16 million to around $18 million a year. With Parker Washington 's deal still up in the air, the Jaguars may cut their losses on Johnson and see what they can grab in the draft.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
