NFL Analysis
3/13/24
4 min read
Johnny Dixon NFL Draft 2024: Combine Results, Scouting Report For Penn State CB
The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information.
Here's our report on Johnny Dixon.
Johnny Dixon's 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS
- Height: 6'0"
- Weight: 196 lbs.
- 40-Time: DNP (Did Not Participate)
- 10-Yard Split: DNP
- Vertical: DNP
- Broad Jump: DNP
- 3-Cone: DNP
- Shuttle: DNP
Johnny Dixon 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT
Strengths
- Has versatility to align on the outside and in the slot based on scheme and was used in several different ways.
- Very good press cornerback who plays with good patience. Moves feet well and gets hands on wide receivers — has good technique.
- Stays in phase well when turning in running vertically with wide receivers from press coverage alignment.
- Reads through the wide receiver's eyes well to allow him to get his head around to locate the ball — good ball skills.
- Solid blitzer off edge (boundary alignment or tight formations) and can beat blocks to pressure the quarterback.
- Has plant and drive ability to close on the ball when needing to break downhill from off/zone coverage.
- Plays with good tempo and under control to mirror wide receiver and change direction — very good man cover cornerback.
- Good length to challenge wide receivers at the line of scrimmage and down the field in coverage. Has solid size and physicality
Weaknesses
- Not as comfortable as a reactive player in off coverage where he allows receivers to attack him coming off ball.
- Handsy player who likes to use his hands in coverage, which could be an issue in NFL after five yards.
- Inconsistent transition skills when needing to open his hips and react laterally or vertically down the field.
NFL Transition:
Dixon has experience playing outside and in the slot. In 2023, he aligned primarily as Penn State's boundary corner, which increased his appeal for his position versatility in the NFL.
He has good size and length, which allows him to disrupt receivers coming off the ball and defend the run. Dixon is a good blitzer who can provide pressure off the short edge or slot at the next level in NFL sub-package-pressure schemes.
He excels best in press man coverage, where he plays with good technique and patience to move his feet and get his hands on wide receivers coming off the ball.
Dixon stays in phase when running vertically downfield with wide receivers from pressed alignment. He has good ball skills when turning his head to locate the ball but has inconsistent transition skills and fluidity when he needs to open his hips to react laterally or vertically in coverage. Dixon struggled more from off coverage when allowing receivers to attack him with their vertical stem, resulting in some separation.
Overall, Dixon’s combination of size and man coverage ability on the outside and in the slot makes him an intriguing mid-round pick because he can be used in multiple positions and schemes. He should be able to contribute on special teams and in sub-package schemes early in his career.
OTHER NOTES:
Dixon came out of Tampa, FL, as a three-star recruit and was ranked 64th in the nation at the cornerback position. He played in 32 games in the last four seasons at Penn State and was third-team All-Big Ten in 2023 and an honorable mention All-Big Ten in 2022. Dixon finished his career with 59 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, three interceptions, and 15 PBUs; he had a career-high 10 PBUs in 2022.
In 2022, Dixon was good from pressed alignment when engaging wide receivers and bailing at the snap depending on the coverage scheme (109 of his 272 total coverage snaps). He allowed a 25 percent completion rate (17th-best in the nation) from pressed alignment (five of 20 for 121 yards with zero touchdowns, one interception and four PBUs).
In 2023, Dixon aligned in press coverage even more frequently but was not as good statistically (99 of his 236 total coverage snaps). He allowed a 56.3 percent completion rate from pressed alignment (9 of 16 for 132 yards with zero touchdowns, one interception and two PBUs).
Between 2022 and 2023, Dixon played an almost even split of man and zone coverage with 211 snaps of zone (allowed a 44.4 percent completion rate, 108 yards with zero touchdowns, one interception and four PBUs) and 210 snaps of man (allowed a 3.3 percent completion rate and 236 yards with two INTs and six PBUs).
