Will Johnson CB Michigan: Scouting Report

Height: 6’2

Weight: 202

Overall

Will Johnson is a long, instinctive boundary cornerback in Michigan’s zone-heavy defense. In his 3 seasons with the Wolverines he appeared in 32 games with 22 starts. He missed the last half of this past season due to a toe injury and he left multiple games early due to injury prior to that making his long-term durability a concern. Throughout his college career he made a lot of big plays and had a lot of production on the ball and he has the talent to be a consistent starter at the next level.

Pass Game

Johnson has experience playing in both the slot and on the boundary but projects best on the outside with his size and length. On film he played a majority of his coverage snaps in zone and with a heavy cushion on his receiver. He has a very high football IQ and has natural instincts to read route concepts and make plays on the ball early. In zone coverage, he does a good job of keeping his eyes on the quarterback while getting to his landmark. He is patient with his feet and is explosive out of his breaks on short routes. On vertical routes, he does a good job of making contact with the receiver and getting into phase as he sticks with them down the field with his speed. He has good hands and is physical at the catch point to break up passes. After the catch he shows some struggles as a tackler and he needs to improve his technique and leverage moving forward.

Run Game

In the run game, Johnson shows physicality when he is close to the line of scrimmage and he is not afraid to make plays on the ball-carrier. When he is out in space however, he shows a hesitancy to create contact on running backs and he will play on his heels resulting in missed tackles. He has the size to be a force in the run game in the pros but he will make the biggest impact in the pass game

Last Word

Johnson projects best as a boundary corner in a zone-heavy defense, similar to the defense he played on in college. He has the talent and physical attributes to be very successful in man coverage but with his elite vision and instincts he is better suited to play off the ball, reading the play in front of him. His multiple injuries this past season, including the one that cut it short are a concern moving forward but if he can stay healthy he has the attributes of a very good boundary corner in the NFL.

One-Liner: Will Johnson is a smart, athletic corner who consistently makes plays in coverage using his eyes and athleticism and he will be a very good corner in the NFL, barring injury.

Grade: 6.9 (Solid Starter on All 3 Downs)

Games Watched: 2024 - Fresno State, Texas, USC

Team Fits: Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints