The Michigan football team had a record-tying night Thursday, as three Wolverines were selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft: Mason Graham (fifth, Cleveland), Colston Loveland (Chicago), Kenneth Grant (Miami). That tied Michigan’s 1995 and 2001 draft classes for the most first-round picks in one draft, and gave the Wolverines three top-15 picks for the first time in program history.

But Michigan not seeing a fourth player selected was a bit of a surprise, as cornerback Will Johnson was not selected. A projected top-10 pick heading into the NFL Draft process, Johnson did not participate in any NFL Draft Combine or Michigan Pro Day drills as he continued ot rehab a turf toe injury. And according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, a knee injury has dissuaded teams from spending a first-round pick on the former All-American cornerback.

“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 tweeted Thursday night.

Johnson, listed as ESPN’s second-best player available entering Friday’s second round behind Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, attended Thursday’s first round, and was commonly viewed as a top-20 draft prospect entering this week. As of Monday, he was No. 17 in CBS Sports’ big board, No. 18 in The Athletic’s , No. 10 in ESPN’s, No. 16 in NFL.com’s, No. 14 in Pro Football Focus and No. 11 in the NFL Mock Draft Database, with a 96.2-percent chance of going in the first round.

But as rumors swirled about a medical issue, Johnson was frequently dropped in the first round of drafts. By the time the draft began, Johnson’s over-under for selection was 24.5.

In three seasons with the Wolverines, Johnson was named freshman All-American, first-team All-American, first-team All-Big Ten and even defensive MVP of the national championship game in 2023. in 32 games and 22 starts with the Wolverines, the 6-foot-2, 194-pounder notched 68 tackles, four tackles for loss, 19 pass breakups and nine interceptions. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed just two touchdowns in coverage in his career, both coming his freshman season, and held opponents to a 104.5 collegiate passer rating (49.8 NFL rating) over three seasons with Michigan.

He was a part of two Big Ten title teams, a national championship and a 6-0 run against rivals Michigan State and Ohio State. The Wolverines were 28-4 in games Johnson played in.

A five-star recruit (No. 15 in the 2022 247Sports Composite) and the son of former Michigan defensive back Deon Johnson, Will Johnson headlined Michigan’s 2022 recruiting class after a decorated career at Grosse Pointe South.

He played in all 14 games as a freshman in 2022, recording 27 tackles, two tackles for loss, six pass breakups and three interceptions, two of which came in the Big Ten championship game. He allowed 28 receptions and 353 yards on 50 targets in coverage, allowing one touchdown in his first game and one in the College Football Playoff. He was named freshman All-American and helped Michigan capture a second straight Big Ten title.

As a sophomore, Johnson broke through even more, being named first-team All-Big Ten, first-team All-American by Sports Illustrated and MVP of the 2023 national title game. He finished with 27 tackles, one tackle for loss, eight pass breakups and four interceptions. He dd not allow a touchdown all season in coverage, and allowed just 17 receptions on 37 targets in coverage. 

After an immense amount of buildup, including preseason All-American honors and being ranked the No. 1 player in EA Sports’ College Football 25 game, Johnson only played in six games in 2024, citing a foot injury. He recorded 14 tackles, a tackle for loss and two interceptions — both of which were returned for touchdowns. In coverage, he allowed 16 receptions and 195 yards on 26 targets.

As a draft prospect, Johnson has good size and length as a cornerback, and plenty of athleticism to match outside receivers. The son of a defensive back, coach and Sound Mind Sound Body co-founder Deon Johnson, Will also has an impressive football IQ, with many scouts citing his footwork, instincts and ball skills as strengths in winning big-time matchups. Nine interceptions to two touchdowns allowed shows good hands and ball skills, and three returned interceptions for touchdowns showcase a playmaking ability.

Few defensive players arrive on Michigan’s campus with as high pressure and anticipation as Johnson did, but he handled it well, and helped lead Michigan to one of its better three-year stretches in the modern era.

A bumpy 2024 season took some wind out of Johnson’s sails, as surprising missed tackles and blown coverages had him trending out of the top five before his injury. And without putting any testing times out at either the Combine or Michigan’s Pro Day, Johnson was unable to showcase speed or athleticism, believed to be more average compared to NFL starters.

Injuries beyond the knee are also a question mark, as he missed 10 games in Michigan’s last two seasons with four different injuries.