Michigan defensive back Will Johnson (2) celebrates a touchdown after intercepting USC quarterback Miller Moss (7) during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

New York Giants Draft Prospect Profile: CB Will Johnson, Michigan

Originally posted on New York Giants on SI
By Nick Falato | Last updated Mar 30, 2025 8:00 AM ET

Will Johnson has several strengths that appear to make him a perfect fit for the New York Giants defense, should they select him in the draft.

Will Johnson, CB

A former four-star recruit from Grosse Pointe South High School in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, where he was the number one recruit from his state and the fourth overall cornerback during the 2022 recruiting cycle. Johnson stepped onto campus and played 488 snaps as a freshman, earning a Freshman All-American nod.

Highly coveted out of high school, Johnson did not disappoint! He allowed just a 54% catch rate in college and only a 45.9% catch rate during the Wolverines epic National Championship season. Johnson mostly played outside cornerback (1,147) snaps with just 58 snaps in the slot.

Johnson was the College Football Playoff National Championship Game Defensive MVP in 2023 and he was a First-Team All-American. Despite his injuries in 2024, he still earned a Second-Team All-American place.

Conversations around Johnson in the media world have seemed to sour. He was a consensus top-five pick heading into the college football season, and it’s easy to see why.

I wouldn’t say he is a complete player – and he must prove healthy after the turf-toe injury – but coverage skills, plus takeaway ability, are crucial to playing cornerback and Johnson possesses both of those in spades, along with elite processing.

Strengths

Grosse Pointe South grad Will Johnson (Michigan CB) junior season highlightspic.twitter.com/8PjRRMSvJm
— The D Zone (@TheD_Zone) January 24, 2025

Weaknesses

Summary

Will Johnson is a highly intelligent outside cornerback with elite instincts from zone and off-man to click & close on route concepts outside the numbers; he’s an immediate threat to take one to the house due to this processing/explosiveness combination.

Johnson is a very good athlete who does a good job staying in phase as a man coverage defender, with the footwork and press ability to be sufficient if tasked in that role, albeit I would argue he’s better from depth, which would translate well to a Shane Bowen-coached defense.

Johnson has solid overall play strength but is best overall as a run defender when he is either blitzing/penetrating or running at the target – which he does tend to overrun at times.

However, while stationary, Johnson lacks the pop and aiming points to be a difference-making run-support cornerback.

The injury held him back in 2024; still, if you look above at the report, you see ELITE written several times, which is rare. Johnson has the traits and is a good football player. If healthy, he should be an above-average starter with game-changing takeaway ability in due time.

GRADE: 6.72

This article first appeared on New York Giants on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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