The Dolphins have signed veteran safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. The former second-round pick of the Houston Texans has enjoyed a seven-year NFL career. A college cornerback converted to safety, Johnson Jr. played the 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders and has appeared in 92 career games with 22 starts, tallying 224 tackles, four interceptions and 17 passes defensed.
1. Downhill player
There isn't much on a football field that Johnson Jr. hasn't done. A standout cornerback at the University of Kentucky, Johnson Jr. has settled into his NFL home at safety, but he calls upon his versatility to wear many hats. Last year for the Raiders, Johnson Jr. split snaps between the post (free safety), at wide corner, in the slot and down around the line of scrimmage in the box.
No matter where Johnson Jr. aligns, the tape shows the same thing – physicality. The majority of his snaps come from 10 or more yards off the football. Still, with only 321 snaps last season, he made 25 tackles.
2. Rugged mindset
Johnson Jr. developed an edge based on hard work and perseverance early in his football life. He started his college career at San Bernardino Valley College and then transferred to Garden City Community College before earning a starring role at Kentucky. Those are the types of success stories that make the NFL king.
His ruggedness and perseverance were tested later in his NFL career. Despite a training camp injury that limited his snaps in 2025, Johnson Jr. locked in on his recovery and was able to return to the field three months later, playing 36 snaps on defense and 13 more on special teams in his season debut in Denver. He appeared in every game the rest of the way and started the final two contests.
3. Faith and family
Following Johnson Jr. on social media, one quickly learns where his motivation comes from. He credited his support system, particularly his wife, for helping him return from his injury last season. Johnson Jr. keeps it simple in his social media profiles, highlighting his faith and his family – talk about keeping the main thing the main thing.
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