Michigan cornerback Will Johnson taken in second round by Cardinals in NFL draft

Angelique S. Chengelis, The Detroit News on Apr 25, 2025

Published in Football

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DETROIT — Speculation about former Michigan cornerback Will Johnson’s NFL draft stock certainly had picked up in the last several weeks because he was coming off an injury and did not run a 40 for scouts, but it mostly involved how much he might fall in the first round.

Johnson, however, was not selected in the opening round Thursday night of the three-day NFL draft. Instead, the All-American who set the program record for pick-6s, was a Round 2 selection taken Friday by the Arizona Cardinals at No. 47 overall.

Michigan had three players selected among the top 13 picks, led by Mason Graham to Cleveland at No. 5, and was looking to set a program record with four first-round picks. Before the 2024 season, Johnson was projected a top-10 lock.

During the first round, ESPN Senior NFL insider Adam Schefter shared an update on social media Thursday night 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 and began dropping him in mock drafts. Johnson had a private workout earlier this month at Michigan, but did not run the 40-yard dash.

“We know Will Johnson anticipates,” Kiper said earlier this month on ESPN.com. “He has all those picks, pick-6s. He’s a difference-maker in that secondary. His anticipation, the way he closes, the way he reads the quarterback. Love all that.”

Johnson, a five-star recruit out of high school, set a program record with three pick-6s, including two last season. He was then sidelined by a turf toe injury he suffered at Illinois on Oct. 19, 2024.

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-6s last season were an 86-yarder against Fresno State and a 42-yarder against USC.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said Johnson has the prototype football physique for a cornerback.

“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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