The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information.
Here's our report on Cornelius Johnson.
Cornelius Johnson'S 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS
- Height: 6-foot-2 3/4
- Weight: 212
- Arm length: NA
- 40-yard dash: 4.44
- 10-yard split: 1.55
- Vertical jump: 37'5"
- Broad jump: 10'7"
- 20-yard shuttle: NA
Cornelius Johnson 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT
STRENGTHS
- A big wide receiver with plus straight-line speed who showed the ability to get on top of and run by the secondary.
- Outstanding length and long strider speed, which gives him vertical element both from the outside and the slot.
- Vertical dimension with his long-striding speed to run by both corners and safeties, getting on top of coverage.
- More of a speed cut intermediate route runner than a sink-your-hips route runner. Showed fluid separation.
- Route running snaps with tempo and footwork, he forced off coverage corners off their spot, creating space.
- Consistently showed the lower body strength to stop on a dime. Could halt and sink without taking many steps.
WEAKNESSES
- Needs to be quicker and more compact in release off LOS when he has free access. Too much wasted motion.
- Had to slow down at top of vertical stem to gain balance to speed cut. Could not accelerate through his breaks.
- Did not look as fluid and natural as you’d ideally like in-and-out of breaks. A little bit of hesitation to gather.
- Too much of a body catcher. Allowed too many routine throws-receptions get into his body. Hands a question?
Michigan wide receiver Cornelius Johnson (6) celebrates a first down against Ohio State during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.
NFL TRANSITION
Johnson absolutely fits the profile of the height/weight/speed prospect at wide receiver, and that makes him an intriguing Day 3 consideration. He also started 44 games at Michigan and, therefore, has a lot of experience in a passing game with NFL terminology and concepts. Johnson has outstanding size and stride length, which translates into vertical play speed making him a deep ball weapon who can run by and get on top of the coverage and at the very least regulate the defense.
At Michigan, Johnson was featured running routes at all three levels of the defense, so he has extensive experience with various route concepts individually and in coordination with other receivers. Johnson is much more of a speed cut receiver, which compensates to some degree for the tightness in his hips. There were intermediate route reps where he showed the tempo and body control to set up corners, creating space to separate.
Given his size, length and speed, Johnson will get an opportunity at the next level, and if he can become more diverse and more refined and nuanced in his route running, he has a chance to develop into more than just a vertical dimension. There is much to like about Johnson's athletic and physical traits. While it might be a stretch to say he can become like Nico Collins, keep in mind that Collins was not a volume target at Michigan, just as Johnson was not a volume target.
It will definitely take some time with Johnson (and it might never happen), but there are not many wide receivers with his physical profile and athletic testing measurables.
OTHER NOTES
Johnson played five years at Michigan with 60 career games and 44 starts. He came out of Connecticut as a four-star recruit and a top 75 wide receiver in the nation.
Johnson almost exclusively lined up outside in Michigan’s offense, including significant snaps at boundary x. He ran a lot of intermediate in-breaking routes, including digs and crossers. Johnson would have had far more receptions, significantly more yardage and touchdowns with better quality quarterback play.
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