Through 23 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, a name we have not heard yet is Michigan cornerback Will Johnson. Once thought to be the cycle’s top cornerback, Johnson has now seen a significant slide in the first round.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter provided some context as to why Johnson is still on the board. He says there is a knee issue with Johnson, giving a lot of teams some pause. At some point, somebody will select Johnson but for now, he continues to drop on Thursday night in Green Bay.
“Michigan CB Will Johnson Jr. has a knee issue that has concerned some NFL teams and helps explain why he still has not been selected,” Schefter said via X.
Johnson has been on NFL radars for quite a few years now. He broke out as a true freshman during the 2022 season and was a huge part of Michigan’s national championship in 2023. But this past year, Johnson’s third and final in college, did not go as planned.
Only six games were played by Johnson this past season. Johnson recorded 14 tackles, 1.0 tackles for a loss, and two interceptions — both of which were returned for touchdowns.
Injuries were the main reason why and the issues have spilled into the NFL Draft. If he does not wind up getting picked on Thursday, surely somebody will scoop him on Day 2.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein broke down what makes Johnson a very enticing prospect. His pro comparison is current standout Jaycee Horn.
“Teams love big, fluid cornerbacks with ball production and that is exactly what Johnson offers,” Zierlein wrote on his evaluation of Johnson. “He’s instinctive and plays with good body control and change of direction in space. He can play man coverage, but he’s at his best when playing with his eyes forward instead of chasing routes downfield. Johnson displays good pre-snap recognition and can read and anticipate routes/throws at a high level.
“While he plays the role of thief in coverage, he needs to balance that mentality with a healthy respect for NFL route-runners, as he might lack the recovery speed to close the distance at a desired rate. He has coveted traits and his areas of concern fail to stand out as impediments for what could become a long, successful career as a future Pro Bowler.”
On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this report
