Will Johnson — NFL Mock Draft Roundup 1.0
Leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, we will track where Michigan Wolverines cornerback Will Johnson appears in the latest NFL mock drafts.
Will Johnson NFL Mock Drafts
Here are some of the latest mock drafts in which Johnson has appeared:
No. 21 overall — Pittsburgh Steelers
I don't believe Johnson is the top-10 lock some seem to think he is, with the big corner facing injury and speed questions ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine, but his skill set could bolster Pittsburgh's secondary.
No. 14 overall — Indianapolis Colts
Will Johnson has the potential to be the best cornerback to come out of this class. I think there is a bit of fatigue among media, similar to what happened with Derek Stingley Jr., when it comes to Johnson. Based on how he played in 2023, before the injury, he had a Patrick Surtain II-type outlook.
No. 11 overall — San Francisco 49ers
The return of Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator could prompt the 49ers to invest in a top cover corner to match up with the talented receivers within the division.
No. 6 overall — Las Vegas Raiders
Johnson is probably the best player available at this point in the draft, bringing potential shutdown cornerback skills to a defense that desperately needs big-time talent on the outside.
The Athletic — Baumgardner/Dochterman
No. 15 overall — Atlanta Falcons
It's hard to place Johnson right now, for a few reasons. Not many teams in the top 10 need a cornerback, and despite the fact Johnson is likely the best pure corner in this class (by a solid margin), he did miss most of this season with multiple injuries. All that said, this spot feels like it's close to his draft floor.
No. 7 overall — New York Jets
The obvious roster question heading into the offseason is the status of Aaron Rodgers and who will be under center for the Jets. With that said, Johnson has outstanding size and length, coverage and ball skills with three career pick-sixes, a Michigan record. If the draft plays out like this, two AFC East teams would battle for the best cornerback tandem in the league for a long time.
No. 8 overall — Carolina Panthers
Carolina's needs could easily have swung to wide receiver had McMillan made it to their slot. Instead, Carolina can use this pick to focus on righting the ship for a defense that struggled greatly in 2024. Many things did not go right for the Panthers' defense last season, and the depth chart offers no shortage of upgrade opportunities. The best-player available approach with Will Johnson could be the kind of pick that changes the unit's identity. Had Johnson not battled injuries this season, he likely wouldn't have made it to No. 8 overall.
No. 15 overall — Atlanta Falcons
Johnson is a polarizing player around the league. He provides size and production, but some questions emerged about his tackling and top speed in 2024.
No. 9 overall — New Orleans Saints
Johnson -- who reads the QB incredibly well and has the quickness to finish plays with takeaways -- could be the Marshon Lattimore replacement in New Orleans. Johnson had nine interceptions over his career at Michigan. The Saints seemingly always find their way out of their salary cap issues, but they are projected to be $70.6 million over the cap in 2025, per Roster Management System. They have to find Day 1 starters in the draft, and Johnson would fill a big hole. New Orleans allowed 7.3 yards per pass attempt this season, ranking 23rd in the league.
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