Saints Pick safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson at #105

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4. CHAUNCEY GARDNER-JOHNSON | Florida 5107 | 210 lbs. | JR. Cocoa, Fla. (Cocoa) 12/20/1997 (age 21.36) #23
BACKGROUND: A four-star cornerback recruit out of high school, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson Jr. was a two-sport standout at Cocoa and was an accomplished track and field athlete. He competed in the long-jump and triple-jump and set the school-records in the 100-meters (10.38) and 200-meters (21.02). On the football field, Gardner-Johnson played in every varsity game over his four seasons, lining up as a do-everything defensive back who also contributed a bit on offense. He finished his senior year with 55 tackles, two interceptions and 927 all-purpose yards. Gardner-Johnson ranked as the No. 4 cornerback and the No. 42 player overall in the 2016 recruiting class, committing to Florida over Alabama, Georgia and Notre Dame. He added “Johnson” to his last name during the 2017 season to honor his stepfather (Brian Johnson), who raised Gardner-Johnson since he was a toddler. His biological father (Chauncey Gardner Sr.) is still in his life. Gardner-Johnson elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2019 NFL Draft.
YEAR (GP/GS) TKLS TFL SACK FF PD INT NOTES
2016: (13/3) 32 0.5 0.0 0 6 3 FS; Second true freshman at Florida to earn Bowl MVP honors (Emmitt Smith)
2017: (11/11) 58 6.0 1.0 0 9 2 SS
2018: (13/12) 71 9.0 3.0 0 6 4 STAR; Bowl Game Defensive MVP
Total: (37/26) 161 15.5 4.0 0 21 9
HT WT ARM HAND WING 40-YD 20-YD 10-YD VJ BJ SS 3C BP
COMBINE 5107 210 30 7/8 09 1/4 74 4.48 2.62 1.58 36 09’09” 4.20 7.03 17
PRO DAY - - - 37 10’02” - - - (stood on Combine runs, shuttles, bench)
STRENGTHS: Terrific athleticism and chase speed…looks like he was shot out of a cannon when closing…excellent pre-snap recognition…sniffs out screens to beat blockers to the spot…takes aggressive routes in coverage…when he had a chance at the interception, he took advantage with nine picks in college…playmaker with the ball in his hands, averaging 33.4 yards per interception return with three touchdowns…experienced blitzer with speed to chase from the backside…toughness to set the edge near the line of scrimmage…well-versed on special teams, finishing second on the team in special teams tackles in 2018…doesn’t lack for confidence and developed more of a leadership voice as a junior…experienced at safety, nickel and outside cornerback.
WEAKNESSES: Shorter than ideal with average bulk for the position…unbalanced transition skills and struggles vs. route technicians…undisciplined eyes and falls for eye candy…inconsistent man-to-man technique…average-at-best play strength and spends too much time hung up on perimeter blocks…struggles to calm his feet, square up the ballcarrier and finish when in motion…often needs help to finish tackles to the ground…rubbed some the wrong way over his tenure at Florida (he is “self-absorbed,” according to several former teammates).
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Florida, Gardner-Johnson arrived in Gainesville as a highly-touted cornerback, but moved to safety during his true freshman season, becoming a full-time starter in 2017 when Marcell Harris suffered a season-ending injury. Gardner-Johnson moved to the “STAR” position in Todd Grantham’s five-man secondary in 2018, playing primarily a nickel role where he looked much more comfortable than in a traditional safety spot. He was one of the leaders on the Florida defense, actively getting his teammates lined up and communicating play calls. He has proven flexibility in the secondary, both athletically and mentally, to play multiple spots. Overall, Gardner-Johnson needs to dial back his aggressive nature to be a more consistent finisher, but he is a play-disruptor with the way he reads and flies around the field, projecting as an ideal nickel in today’s NFL.
GRADE: 2nd Round (#48 overall)

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Chauncey Gardner-Johnson Jr. was a two-sport standout at Cocoa and was an accomplished track and field athlete. He competed in the long-jump and triple-jump and set the school-records in the 100-meters (10.38) and 200-meters (21.02). On the football field, Gardner-Johnson played in every varsity game over his four seasons, lining up as a do-everything defensive back who also contributed a bit on offense. He finished his senior year with 55 tackles, two interceptions and 927 all-purpose yards.

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