Aaron Donald was a unicorn, a one-of-one talent. But if Illinois’ Johnny Newton — whom the Miami Dolphins should definitely consider with the 21st pick of the NFL Draft — is even 90% of the player Donald was, he would be a home-run pick for a team that has a need at defensive tackle.
Here’s what you need to know about Newton, a consensus All-American who won the Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year Award after a spectacular final season in Champaign.
Miami Dolphins Draft Preview: Get To Know Illinois DT Johnny Newton
The Basics
- Age: 21
- Height: 6’1 5/8″
- Weight: 304 pounds
- Length: 32 3/8″
- Wingspan: 75 7/8″
- Hand: 9 1/2″
- Current Year: Redshirt Junior
- PFN Big Board Ranking: No. 14 overall, No. 1 defensive tackle
Why Newton Is a First-Round Talent
Newton isn’t just a slam-dunk first-round pick. He might be the first defensive lineman taken in two weeks.
PFN Draft Analyst Ian Cummings has him as a top-15 talent.
ESPN ranks him ahead of Byron Murphy II as the draft’s No. 1 defensive tackle. And PFF has him the draft’s No. 8 prospect — regardless of position.
If certain positions (cough, cough, quarterback) weren’t pushed up the board due to scarcity, the Dolphins would probably have little hope of landing Newton at 21.
But in the real world, he has a real chance to slip out of the top 20. If he does, the Dolphins will be in position to take a player with game-changing tape.
Here’s Cummings’ evaluation, as it appears on PFN’s Newton draft profile:
“Particularly for odd and hybrid-front teams, Newton presents exciting appeal and can be an impact starter fairly early in his career.
“At around 6’2″, 304 pounds, with middling length, Newton won’t fit the size threshold for certain roles. He can shade over 0-tech and 1-tech when he has more space to work from NASCAR packages, but overall, he’s best at 3-tech and outside.
“Naturally, Newton’s lack of mass can be a problem against double-teams, and he can be displaced by combo blocks.
“Still, Newton is a surgical disruptor in both run defense and pass defense, whose hyper-elite flexibility serves as a defining and dominating trait. With his combined burst, flexibility, hand strength, and angle awareness, he’s an unnaturally permeable force against run blocks.”
How Newton Would Fit
With Zach Sieler, Benito Jones, and Teair Tart, the Dolphins will probably have enough capable run stoppers in 2024.
Where they will miss Christian Wilkins the most? Disruptive playmaking in the backfield and consistent pass rush.
Beyond Sieler, Miami doesn’t really have any playmakers at the position. Drafting Newton, who had 13 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss in his final two years at Illinois, would go a long way in addressing that deficiency.
Newton’s approach to the game?
“Just make the plays that come to me, honestly,” he said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “Not chasing any plays. I mean, pass rush, I’m gonna chase them every time, but never like, not doing my job just to make the play. I’m just doing what I’m told, executing at a high level.”
What’s in a Name?
Newton goes by Johnny, but that’s not his given name.
His parents — Jervon Newton and Jovita Rich — named him Jer’Zhan.
His four brothers, per his Illinois player bio, are Jervon, Jerquan, Jerjuan, and Jerhsaun.
“Everybody calls me Johnny,” he said at the Combine. “If I’m in trouble, Jer’Zhan.”
Why the nickname?
“A lot of people just don’t know how to say Jer’Zhan, so I was like, just call me Johnny. Either or is fine. I really don’t mind what somebody calls me. Jer’Zhan, Johnny, it’s whatever.”
Injury Update
Newton’s production in his junior year is even more impressive when you consider he played through a broken foot for the second half of the season.
Newton underwent surgery in the offseason that prevented him from participating in drills at the NFL Scouting Combine and Illinois’ Pro Day. He had planned to hold a private workout for teams, but if that has happened, it hasn’t yet been reported.
KEEP READING: The Miami Dolphins’ Case For (and Against) Drafting Georgia OT Amarius Mims