Entering the 2024 college football season as a likely top five draft pick, Michigan cornerback Will Johnson only needed to show NFL scouts what they had seen for the first two years of his collegiate career in order to solidify that status. Unfortunately, an up-and-down junior campaign could cost Johnson money as he seems to be sliding down draft boards. 
Analytically, Johnson played well at times but didn’t nearly display the dominance that he had in his first two years in Ann Arbor. As a freshman for the Wolverines, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded Johnson out as the 12th-best cornerback in the NCAA out of 917 graded players at the position. He followed that up with a 114th-best ranking (out of 859) in 2023 before falling to 139th out of 848 in this year.
You can see similarities reflected in his on-field contributions, as well. As a true freshman, Johnson played in all 14 of the team’s games, making five starts. In his time on the field, though, Johnson was extremely disruptive with three interceptions, six passes defensed, and two tackles for loss. During the team’s championship campaign in 2023, Johnson missed a couple of games with injury but still started 11 of 12 games played. He increased his pass defense numbers with four interceptions and eight passes defended and even won the Defensive MVP award in the National Championship Game.
Despite only playing six games in 2024 due to injury, Johnson stayed on track with two interceptions and five passes defensed. After a shoulder contusion forced him to miss some time early in the season, Johnson saw a turf toe injury sideline him for the back half of the season.
The turf toe injury lingered into the offseason and pre-draft process. The ailment held him out of workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine, though he did attend for interviews and measurements. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Johnson held a private workout for scouts in Ann Arbor in early-April after missing Michigan’s pro day because of the injury. Todd McShay of The Ringer, though, adds that Johnson did not run a 40-yard dash in the private workout.
As a result of these injury issues and the up-and-down play as a junior, Johnson appears to be falling down draft boards. Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald indicated that Johnson is likely to fall out of the top 10 draft picks and may not be the first cornerback off the board. This prediction doesn’t include Colorado’s Travis Hunter, an obvious prospect being ranked over Johnson, but instead asserts that Texas’ Jahdae Barron will be picked before Johnson.
Regardless, all Johnson can do at this point is keep his head down and keep working. He seems to be healing, but each team will do their own research into his medicals as they continue to evaluate their options. Most recently, Johnson visited the Seahawks earlier this week, per Rapoport. At the moment, he’s still considered a likely Day 1 pick, but if he keeps trending down, he could be in danger of falling out of the first round altogether.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this post.
Classic Raven pick ‘Top 5 talent falling down the draft board’. There’s a reason they are always in the hunt. Same for UT’s DE Pierce. I saw him mocked #1 prior to last offseason. Now people are saying he’s 2nd rounder.
And the reason they should never be bet in big games is at the QB position.
I went into this going, “I’m sure that that slippage isn’t too bad and a bit overblown” and then I saw that PFF bit. Now, PFF rankings aren’t Gospel, and there can be plenty to disagree about, legitimately. However, going from 12th down to 114th, and then EVEN LOWER the next year, is actually a spectacular fall. One year is one thing; two, at that rate, is quite stupendous.
I haven’t watched all of Johnson’s games, but that’s enough to make me want to review his film. Does anyone here know his ins and outs very well?
Looks a lot like Derek Stingley’s college progression. Stingley graded 91-72-67, playing only 3 games the last year (and 7 in his second year). Johnson graded 88-79-76, playing only 6 games last year. Stingley’s fall is easier to attribute to boredom given the drop-off at LSU after they won it all, but maybe that’s Johnsons issue too.
I think the rumor is he dogged it because of his perceived draft stock
Thanks for the comparison. I was more familiar with Stingley, and indeed, that was one of the questions about him (other than healthgiven his last year at LSU. Obviously he panned out; I’ll learn more about Johnson to see what else I can find out to round out an opinion. This framing does make sense, though, when you put it that way.
Beware of the CB with questionable speed who refuses to run a 40. You can assume it would be terrible. Draft accordingly.
Or just look at his tape and see how fast and fluid he was with pads on…….
I think the two most worrisome things about Johnson are the turf toe injury and lack of speed and man to man cover skills. Turf toe issues can be a chronic issue, especially at that position, look at Deion Sanders at the end of his career. But also watching the tape he seems to get stuck in the mud at times in man to man. He was getting picked on big time in the game against Fresno State I think it was, right up until he put a 95 yard pick six on the board he was getting beat like a drum on down field routes. If he joins a zone heavy team I think he can thrive if the toe holds up, but there are definitely legitimate reasons for concern. I loved the idea of him going to my Packers at 23, but the more in depth I watched his tape from a year ago, I’m starting to have second thoughts. I think he didn’t run the 40 for the most obvious of reasons… he wasn’t going to run a fast one. Truthfully with his instincts ball skills and tackling ability he might actually be better suited for free safety at the pro level.
Someone in the teens will end up being very happy.
Possibly the Dolphins