Cardinals use 3rd-round pick on big RB David Johnson
Reese Strickland / USA TODAY Sports
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The Arizona Cardinals have selected running back David Johnson out of Northern Iowa in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Johnson won't break many tackles with speed, but offers value not only as a pounder but also as a receiver. He should provide an ideal complement to Andre Ellington, handling between-the-tackles carries and short-yardage duty.
David Johnson Bio
Position: RB
School: Northern Iowa
College Experience: Redshirt Senior
Height: 6-1
Weight: 224 lbs.
Age: 23
Combine Results
| Event | Result |
|---|---|
| 40-yd Dash | 4.50 sec |
| Bench Press | 25 reps |
| Vertical Jump | 41.5 inches |
| Broad Jump | 127 inches |
| 3-Cone Drill | 6.82 sec |
| 20-yd Shuttle | 4.27 sec |
Strengths
- Excellent receiving option. Very soft hands. Played receiver in high school.
- Good lower-body strength. Has demonstrated ability to churn out tough yards in key situations.
- Can succeed on all three downs.
- Uses blockers effectively. Runs with patience and waits for lanes to open.
- May work best in a shotgun spread scheme.
Weaknesses
- Not adept at running between the tackles. Limited power.
- Lacks a second gear, both laterally and in the open field. Can be caught from behind by speedy defenders.
- A straight-line runner. Not much elusiveness.
- Heavy usage in college could limit the tread he has left on his tires as a pro.
- Some coaches could see him as an H-back rather than as a pure runner.