Pick via Kansas City Chiefs
The pick after the first cornerback comes off the board, the Seattle Seahawks take the first safety in the 2019 NFL Draft. After losing both Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas in 2019, one to retirement and one to injury, the Seahawks need to address the safety position early in the draft.
Here, they take Florida safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson with the 29th overall pick in the draft after trading away Frank Clark to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for this pick, a 2020 second round pick, and the swapping of another pick to be named.
Gardner-Johnson is the most well-rounded safety in this year’s draft class as he played both corner and safety for the Gators, giving him adept skills in both man and zone coverage. His film also shows an ability to step into the box and blitz when needed as well.
At nearly 5-11 and 210 pounds, Gardner-Johnson runs a sub-4.5-second 40-yard dash and hit 36 inches on his vertical jump. While he is not the athlete of the other safeties in this class, such as Juan Thornhill or Darnell Savage, Gardner-Johnson presents the safest pick of the litter.
For a team like the Seahawks who made the playoffs without both Chancellor and Thomas, adding a quality safety to the mix will increase their chances of advancing through the postseason. Here they add Gardner-Johnson in hopes of landing Thomas’s replacement.