Antonio Johnson

Rookie cameo → 47-tackle starter → 40-tackle / 9-PD breakout: each year added a new layer.

Johnson — a 5th-round pick from Texas A&M in 2023 — barely played as a rookie (10 tackles). The 2024 season was the volume jump (47 tackles) once he became a primary box safety. 2025 is the polish year: he kept the tackle volume nearly the same (40 in fewer games), and added a career-high 9 PDs, 2 TFL, and 2.0 sacks — building out the all-around profile.

9 PDs in 2025 — already tripled his prior career total in a single season.

Through his first two seasons, Johnson had 5 PDs combined. In 2025 alone, he has 9 PDs.

That kind of year-three jump from a box safety usually signals a role change — Johnson appears to be playing more snaps in coverage than in his first two years, which were primarily run-support oriented. The 2 TFL and 2.0 sacks alongside the 9 PDs suggest he's now a true two-way safety.

From box-only to two-way: 2024 was 47-1-0 in Tkl/TFL/Sacks. 2025 is 40-2-2 in fewer snaps.

Year over year, Johnson's role has visibly broadened. In 2024, he was used as a pure tackler — 47 tackles, but only 1 TFL and 0 sacks. In 2025, the tackle volume is nearly identical (40), but he's getting behind the line of scrimmage (2 TFL + 2.0 sacks = 4 disruptions) AND breaking up passes (9 PDs vs 2).

That kind of split — same tackle workload, but with disruption AND coverage layered on top — is the resume of a player whose role just expanded mid-career.

3 seasons, 97 tackles, 14 PDs, 3.0 sacks — a wholly Jaguar-developed safety.

Every defensive participation on Johnson's resume is as a Jaguar. Career totals through 2025: 97 tackles, 3 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 2 QB hits, 14 PDs, 1 forced fumble.

He's still on his rookie deal — the breakout PD year (9 in 2025) is happening exactly when it should for a 5th-round pick. The volume profile (~40+ tackles/year for two straight seasons) means he's the first safety in the box in Jacksonville's scheme.

2024: 47 tackles in a defense allowing the third-most yards per game — but only 1 TFL.

Johnson's 47 tackles in 2024 came alongside just 1 TFL — meaning 98% of his 2024 tackles happened after the play crossed the LOS. That's the stat line of a safety constantly cleaning up runs that already gashed the front seven.

The 2025 redirect (2 TFL, 2.0 sacks) is the answer: with the Jags' defensive front getting healthier, Johnson is finally getting to plays earlier — a sign the role around him has improved alongside his own development.