Cowboys 2026 NFL Draft Watch: Chris Johnson, CB, Scouting Report

Dane Brugler wrote on Johnson in his pre-draft piece, The Beast, and was very complimentary. He said Johnson could be a starter on "day one."

"Johnson is a sticky cover man, in both man and zone. He plays with clean pedal mechanics to mirror and match in press man and flashes a burst to regain phase down the field. He is hyperaware in zone to drive on throws and consistently play through catch windows," Brugler wrote.

As for his fit with the Cowboys, Johnson is someone who could thrive under Christian Parker. The new defensive coordinator desires versatile players, and plans to use multiple schemes to keep offenses guessing.

Johnson's ability to play man or zone would let Parker mix things up on defense. His knack for taking the ball away is the icing on the cake, especially after a 2025 campaign when the Cowboys struggled to create turnovers.

Round Projection

Initially, Johnson was considered a second-round pick, but his draft stock has risen in recent weeks. Johnson did well at the NFL Combine, recording a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash and hit 38-inches on his vertical jump.

Scouts were already high on Johnson, but his performance, plus the interest teams have shown, has allowed the rest of us to catch up. Now, Johnson seems to be in play in Round 1, with some calling him the third-best cornerback behind Mansoor Delane and Jermod McCoy.

Pro Player Comp: Marcus Peters

At 6-0 and 193 pounds, Johnson is built very similar to former All-Pro Marcus Peters. A first-round pick in 2015, Peters was listed at 6-0 and 197 pounds and was known for his talent as a ballhawk.

As a rookie, Peters recorded eight interceptions and had 19 during his first three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. In eight seasons, Peters racked up 97 pass deflections, 33 interceptions, 10 fumble recoveries, and eight defensive touchdowns.

There's no guarantee that Johnson will be as impactful as Peters, but he appears to be cut from the same cloth.