2014 NFL Combine Preview: Five More Secondary Players to Watch

Dec 31, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack safety Dontae Johnson (25) celebrates after breaking up a pass intended for Vanderbilt Commodores wide receiver Jordan Matthews (87) during the second half of the Music City Bowl at LP Field. Vanderbilt won 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

4. Dontae Johnson (Free Safety)

School: North Carolina State
Watch to Watch: 40-Time, shuttle drill, 3 cone drill
2013 Stats: 81 tackles, three interceptions, two passes defended
Met with Chiefs: No

Johnson is a free safety convert who shows flashes of being a good safety in the NFL. There is not a huge ceiling there, but at 6-2 he could be a useful piece for the Chiefs.

Johnson does not have very good ball skills, and could use some extra weight in order to cover tight ends and defend the run. While he lacks those two things, he does have a physical style of play and shows flashes of being a good cover guy. There is a back end of the draft expectation for him that could end up being a guy who falls out of the draft.

Speed and quickness are the biggest question mark for him in terms of raw abilities. The expectation for him is to post a time closer to 4.6 than 4.5. John Dorsey is noted for being a guy who values speed so a bad combine could put Johnson off the Chiefs’ radar for good, even with the 6-2 size.