Steelers selected Texas A&M LB Buddy Johnson with the No. 140 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Johnson (6’0/229) was rated as the 19th outside linebacker from the 2017 class, but was also recruited as a quarterback by some Group of Five programs. He elected to concentrate on defense, playing in 47 games for the Aggies while starting 32 of them and playing all three linebacker spots at various points. He settled in at off-ball linebacker in 2019 and thrived, recording 163 tackles, 18.0 TFL, five sacks and three forced fumbles while leading the team in tackles in each of the last two seasons. A team captain and example-setting leader, Johnson possesses high-end athleticism as is shown by his 4.58 40-yard dash (91st percentile), 38.5” vertical jump (95th) and 4.07 shuttle (97th) which combined for an elite 9.22 RAS. Johnson is at his best when flowing down the line of scrimmage and using his vice grip-like hands to work off blocks. He showed demonstrable improvement each season and attacks the ball carrier with controlled aggression. Coverage skills and technique don’t match his physical gifts and gets lost at times. Johnson profiles as a two-down run defender who has the potential to slot into a NFL linebacker rotation.
