In surprise move, second-round pick is a safety

The Vikings were so enamored with Arkansas State safety Tyrell Johnson that they told almost no one of their interest. Least of all Johnson.

"I had no idea," Johnson said Saturday, after the Vikings traded up in the second round to draft him. Johnson's sentiments reflected a majority of NFL observers who wouldn't have guessed that the Vikings would take a safety with their most meaningful pick of the 2008 NFL draft.

In need of offensive linemen and receivers, the Vikings instead moved up four spots to grab Johnson with the No. 43 overall pick. They gave Philadelphia their fourth-round pick to move up four spots, while also picking up a fifth-rounder from the Eagles.

The Vikings owned the No. 47 selection but were concerned that the Eagles targeted Johnson at No. 43.

"He is a unique player," said Rick Spielman, vice president of player personnel. "When it got within striking distance, we felt we had to go up and get him. ... He was too good of a football player to sit there and wait."

Johnson, the leading tackler in Sun Belt Conference history, started getting attention at the scouting combine in February by running the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds and finishing 27 reps of the 225-pound bench press. Spielman termed Johnson "a complete safety" who is equally comfortable near the line of scrimmage or in coverage.

After interviewing Johnson at the combine, Vikings coach Brad Childress concluded that he was a "good communicator" who had strong potential for leadership in the secondary. Those skills could come in handy as early as next year; strong safety Darren Sharper is entering the final year of his contract, and at age 32 there are no guarantees he will be re-signed.

Childress stopped short of pegging Johnson as Sharper's successor but noted a relevant axiom.

"You don't want to grow old at a position all at once," Childress said. "Whether it's safety or in the offensive line or your linebacking corps. ... You'd like guys to be at different levels."

Johnson figures to be a prominent special teams player while he gains seasoning behind Sharper, along with newcomers Madieu Williams and Michael Boulware.

"Most definitely, I think I can come in and contribute right away," Johnson said. "It all depends on what the coaching staff has for me, and I'm just going to respect whatever they have for me."

Arkansas State was the only Division I school to offer a scholarship to Johnson, who had been a 170-pound running back at Rison (Ark.) High School. But he earned a starting job as a redshirt freshman, finishing his career with 363 tackles and 13 interceptions.

But it was not until the combine that Johnson solidified his status as a first-day pick.

"I knew the combine was important," Johnson said. "I knew it was now or never, and I set that in my mind. ... I believe I stepped up and showed everybody that I'm just as much an athlete or probably even a better athlete than most of these guys are."