Iowa State’s Anthony Johnson Jr. selected in seventh round of NFL Draft

IOWA CITY — The Green Bay Packers picked Iowa State safety Anthony Johnson Jr. in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Saturday.

Johnson, taken with the 242nd overall pick, is going to a team with a significant need at safety now that Adrian Amos is a free agent.

Johnson, a native of St. Petersburg, Fla., moved to safety in 2022 after playing cornerback in his first four seasons with Iowa State.

He earned second-team all-Big 12 recognition in 2022 after grabbing two interceptions and breaking up four passes. He was an all-Big 12 honorable mention from 2019-21.

Johnson is the first Iowa State defensive back drafted since Ellis Hobbs was the 84th overall pick in 2005.

Johnson was the third and final Cyclone drafted this year. Will McDonald IV was a first-rounder, and Xavier Hutchinson was a sixth-rounder.

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