Not So Fast With The Big Will Johnson Grade

Michigan’s Will Johnson is the consensus No. 1 cornerback in the 2025 NFL Draft according to other draft media platforms.

When I hear talk of a prospect graded that high, I expect to be knocked off my desk chair when I turn on the game film.

But, that’s not what happened.

What does he do best?

Johnson is a clever opportunist showing coverage versatility that NFL defensive coordinators like. He can play in press man (cornerback lines up right on the receiver pre-snap), and zone coverage (cornerback is responsible for covering a certain field area). Still, he excels (and seems most comfortable) in off-man coverage (the cornerback lines up a few yards off the receiver pre-snap).

This is signature coverage.

Johnson loves giving receivers underneath cushion while baiting quarterbacks to throw it in his direction. He’s great in situations like this when he can keep the game in front of him, and he can time it just right when he has enough time to recover. This is when he tends to be able to make plays on the ball.

What’s the downside?

Former Buckeyes’ wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and former Huskies’ receiver Rome Odunze showed they could get Johnson on routes featuring quick, sudden, and unexpected changes of direction. Odunze exposed him.

There are times when Johnson doesn’t have enough space or time to react fast enough and he gets beat. He looks a little too lax at times. Johnson can misjudge the timing and give up too much cushion which results in receivers making catches because he was too far off pre-snap. It’s like he’s guessing out there.

He plays the receivers and not the ball

That’s the main issue. It showed up on deep passes too when he often didn’t look for the ball. Instead, he tried to physically crowd the receiver, and when he did try to occasionally turn around and look for the ball, he lost a step on the receiver and lost route leverage.

Overrated

Johnson is not a lockdown shut down select him in the first round and throw away the key prospect. He projects to be a solid starting No. 2 cornerback on an NFL roster.

He provides fairly tight coverage all of the time, which is positive, but he also lacks the physical attributes elite corners have like short-area burst and long-range recovery speed to be a true difference maker.

Johnson is good, but he’s not great. He’s too inconsistent (2023: 17 receptions on 38 targets). He didn’t wow me.

I think elite NFL receivers who know how to set him up and change direction on a dime will destroy Johnson, and I think Odunze and Harrison gave us a sneak preview of that. I don’t see any way a team can select him and throw him out there against each team’s best receiver week in and week out.

#2 Will Johnson 6-foot-2, 202 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2024 Summer Grade: Second-Round (I wouldn’t select him)

Projected by 92.7% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of July 25, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2023 game film evaluated: Penn State, Rutgers, Washington, Maryland, Alabama, Indiana, Ohio State, Purdue, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Nebraska (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Note: Played cornerback, wide receiver, and basketball in high school

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Predatory Cover Corner who is a naturally gifted athlete and an undependable tackler. Demonstrated ability to jam. Can flip his hips and shows quick get up and go. Quick body movements. Smooth peddle. Usually stays in phase with good straight-line speed. Excels at mirroring and shadowing receivers. Good overall body flexibility. Slight hip tightness shows up when he’s attempting to make quick and sudden changes of direction. Lacks instincts and compensates with an inconsistent sense of timing when he can see it developing. Receivers can and do use his aggressiveness against him in their route running. A reluctant hitter who either hits or comes in low. Not a sure wrapping tackler in pass and run support. Tends to shy away.

What to watch for during the 2024 college football season

1. Is he playing the ball or playing the receivers?

2. How does he look in coverages that aren’t in front of him?

3. Showing elite traits?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.