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Saints’ new safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson’s versatility stands out on film

When the New Orleans Saints drafted Florida safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson in the fourth round on Saturday (April 27), my initial thought was that he would provide insurance for Vonn Bell, who is entering the final year of his contract.

After watching seven of Gardner-Johnson’s games, five from 2018 and two from 2017, I think it’s more accurate to say the Saints pursued him for his versatility.

Gardner-Johnson primarily played nickel for the Gators in 2018, but he didn’t just cover slot receivers. He blitzed at a high rate for a defensive back, and although he was rarely successful as a blitzer, the speed he demonstrated is a trait the Saints should be able to develop.

In 2017, Gardner-Johnson seemed to mix time as a deep safety and a box safety, so it’s tough to project where the Saints expect him to play. After the draft, General Manager Mickey Loomis declined to explain the vision for each pick, and Gardner-Johnson is a player who could fill various roles for the Saints based on what he did at Florida.

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The first thing that shows up on tape is Gardner-Johnson’s speed. Whether he’s in coverage, blitzing or pursuing a running back, he flies around the field. His speed is even more apparent with the ball in his hands, which explains how he averaged 31.8 yards per interception return, including two touchdowns. The Saints have sought defensive players who can make game-changing plays, and Gardner-Johnson fits the description.

His coverage skills are impressive but far from perfect. In 2018, he typically played off the line of scrimmage, and although he has the speed to close the gap, he sometimes struggled to diagnose routes.

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He also has some issues diagnosing run and pass plays and was too often late to help on run plays while running downfield in coverage.

Overall, Gardner-Johnson has enough skills to show why the Saints coveted him, but he also has enough flaws to indicate why he slipped into the fourth round.

The best play I saw was Gardner-Johnson’s first interception against Michigan in the 2018 Peach Bowl. On the play, he lined up as a nickel, but he showed free safety skills to make the pick. He hands off coverage of his man to two other defensive backs, but he doesn’t immediately turn around as he tries to fool the quarterback. When Gardner-Johnson turns around, he sprints to help the outside cornerback covering a post and snatches the interception.

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