There was plenty of pre-draft discussion surrounding where Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, an All-American in 2023, might go in the first round of the NFL Draft.
In the end, that was for naught.
Johnson, who attended the NFL Draft in Green Bay, was not a first-round selection and will wait to hear his name Friday night when the second and third rounds are held. Michigan had three players selected among the top-13 picks and was looking to set a program record with four first-round picks. Before the 2024 season, Johnson was projected a top-10 selection.
As names continued to be called, ESPN Senior NFL insider Adam Schefter shared an update on Johnson, who missed the second half of last season with turf toe then injured his hamstring earlier this year and did not go through drills at the NFL Combine.
“(He) has a knee issue that has concerned some NFL teams and helps explain why he still has not been selected,” Schefter wrote.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper had Johnson ranked No. 11 on his final Big Board, but some analysts thought teams were not sold. Johnson had a private workout earlier this month at Michigan but did not run the 40-yard dash.
Johnson, a five-star recruit out of Grosse Pointe South, was sidelined by a turf toe injury he suffered at Illinois. During his Michigan career, he set a program record with three pick-sixes
After recovering from the turf toe injury in early January, Johnson said he then too quickly jumped into running, which caused the hamstring problem. He was frustrated with his inability to play much of last season but didn’t think that would affect his draft stock.
“I know what I can do on the field,” Johnson said after Michigan’s Pro Day. “I got a lot of film out there. I know I’ll go to the team that’s supposed to pick me, so I’m not too worried about it.”
Johnson, named defensive MVP of the 2023 national championship game, finished his three-year Michigan career with nine interceptions. His two pick-sixes last season were an 86-yarder against Fresno State and a 42-yarder against USC.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah raved about Johnson’s football physique.
“Will is central casting for what you want a corner to look like,” Jeremiah said on a conference call. “He is tall. He’s rangy. He’s a fluid athlete, a fluid mover. He’s got really good eyes. He’s got excellent ball skills. That’s where you start. That’s a really good foundation.”
Johnson made 22 starts and had 19 pass breakups in his career at Michigan, and was a Freshman All-American as a true freshman in 2022.
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