Seattle Seahawks: Predicting 5 most surprising roster cuts of 2018

2. CB Dontae Johnson

When the Seahawks first signed Dontae Johnson back in May, it seemed like a terrific get for the Seattle secondary. Then, as I started to do some further research, I began to realize that it wasn’t quite the home run I had originally pegged it as.

On the surface, Johnson had the makings of a potential starter for the Seahawks. Last year, he started every game for the San Francisco 49ers, playing a whopping 1,026 defensive snaps along the way. Unfortunately, what we saw from Johnson during those snaps wasn’t all that impressive.

As it turns out, Johnson was one of the worst cornerbacks in the league in 2017, according to Pro Football Focus. He routinely got beat, doesn’t excel against the run and lacks the instincts to get his hands on the football.

I get the appeal — Johnson is a long, physical cornerback who fits the mold in Seattle. Unfortunately, while the natural tools are there, it doesn’t appear that he quite knows how to use them. There’s a reason why the 49ers were so willing to let him walk this offseason, replacing him with Richard Sherman in the process.

With Shaquill Griffin, Byron Maxwell and Justin Coleman looking like locks to start, Johnson will be hard-pressed to earn a reserve role. Seeing as the Seahawks gave him no guarantees in his contract, though, it appears they’re already primed to show him door.