As a two-time All-American and a 2023 national champion, Michigan Wolverines cornerback Will Johnson is one of the most decorated players in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Johnson was an impact player for the Wolverines right out of the gate, and his three seasons there cemented him as one of the top defensive backs they’ve ever had. Now, he’ll look to carry that level of success over to the professional level.
Will Johnson’s Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’2″
- Weight: 202 pounds
- Position: Cornerback
- School: Michigan
- Current Year: Junior
Johnson’s Scouting Report
Johnson was born in Detroit and attended Grosse Pointe South High School, just a few miles outside of the city. His father, Deon, played cornerback for Michigan’s football team in the 1990s. A consensus five-star recruit in high school, the younger Johnson decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and commit to play college football at Michigan.
Enrolling early in classes in January 2022, Johnson partook in winter conditioning for Michigan’s football team and earned a starting cornerback spot as a true freshman. He played in 14 games, tallying 27 tackles, three interceptions, and three pass deflections.
When targeted, quarterbacks averaged a passer rating of 66.0 against Johnson. He was named to the freshman All-American team for his performance.
The 2023 season proved to be tremendous for both Johnson and the Wolverines’ roster as a whole. Michigan won the College Football Playoff National Championship, with Johnson starting at cornerback playing a big role in their defense’s success.
He finished with 27 tackles, four interceptions, and four pass deflections, returning one of his picks back for a touchdown. He allowed a passer rating of 30.9 and a completion percentage of 45.9%, earning first-team All-American recognition for his play.
Johnson missed the back half of the 2024 season due to injury, but he still played well enough to warrant a second-team All-American nod for his performance in the six games he played.
He intercepted two passes as a junior, returning them both back for touchdowns. With one more year of college eligibility, he opted to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft instead.
Strengths
- Didn’t allow a single touchdown in his last two seasons at Michigan.
- Had three pick-sixes throughout his collegiate career.
- Possesses the ideal size and length for the cornerback position.
- Well-built frame allows him to maintain physicality along the perimeter in coverage.
- Isn’t a cornerback who’s going to give up big plays in coverage very often.
- Has impressive foot speed and longitudinal agility displayed in his backpedal, especially for a taller cornerback.
- Does a good job of reading the quarterback’s progressions and using formation, down, and distance to anticipate what route his receiver is going to run.
- Acts upon his read quickly thanks to his noteworthy downhill acceleration.
- Competitive at the catch point, as he isn’t afraid to battle through contact to make a play on the ball.
- Tracks the deep ball well, showcasing the body control and awareness to get under it and make a play.
- Isn’t afraid to bring it in run support; capable tackler who uses his above-average size to his advantage at the wrap-up point.
- Three-year starter at a blue-blood program who’s battle-tested against some of the best college football has to offer.
Weaknesses
- Missed half of the 2024 season due to a turf toe injury.
- Footwork isn’t super polished in bump-and-go coverage closer to the line of scrimmage.
- Pad level can be a little bit too high as a tackler sometimes, presenting opportunities for missed tackles against stronger ball-carriers.
- Sometimes a bit too aggressive in coverage, leaving him prone to biting on double-moves.
- Still offers solid physicality in press, but he’s arguably not as comfortable close to the line of scrimmage as one would like for his size.
- The angles he takes in pursuit as a run defender are inconsistent and can sometimes come off as undisciplined.
Current Draft Projection and Summary
Johnson entered the 2024 college football season as a likely first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and he certainly remains at that level in the offseason.
There’s not too much to overthink with Johnson, as he’s an intelligent cornerback with all the physical tools needed to thrive at the NFL level. He’s big with long arms and moves with impressive fluidity in coverage, and that in itself would have him firmly on teams’ radars.
The physical tools are obvious, but the playmaking mentality and route recognition make him a seriously valuable prospect. He gets the most out of his tools because of his aggression in coverage.
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That can come back to bite him sometimes, but more often than not, it helps Johnson make plays other cornerbacks simply can’t. He’s a difference-maker along the boundary with legitimate CB1 potential in the NFL.
Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, Johnson projects as a first-round pick and one of the top overall players in the class. Whether you have him above Colorado’s Travis Hunter among cornerbacks likely comes down to personal preference. That said, it would be surprising to see Johnson fall out of the first 10 picks.
