Michigan cornerback Will Johnson is one of the most gifted defensive backs in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he slid out of the first round amidst injury concerns. The cornerback was left sitting in the green room as the round ended, and he will now hope to hear his name called early on Day 2.
While there are concerns, Johnson is one of the best players left on the board heading into Round 2 of the draft. He was also graded the top CB in this class in PFSN’s 2025 NFL Draft prospect rankings. Let’s delve into the medical red flags that have hurt his stock.
Injuries Led To Will Johnson’s NFL Draft Freefall
In his first two seasons at Michigan, Johnson earned respect as one of the best cornerbacks in all of college football. He’s always been a playmaker, with two interceptions in the Conference Championship game against Purdue in his freshman year.
Then, in the National Championship Game against the Washington Huskies, he picked off Michael Penix Jr.’s first throw of the second half, swinging the momentum of the game and allowing Michigan to hold their lead to win the title.
Johnson was a first-team All-American and a national champion. He has prototypical cornerback size, standing 6’2″ and 202 pounds, and he emerged as one of the best man-coverage corners in the country.
So, how does a valuable prospect like that slide out of the first round?
The key concern is his long list of injuries. He only played five games in his junior year, with various injuries affecting his season.
A shoulder injury forced him to leave the game against USC and sidelined him the following week against Minnesota. After just one game back, Johnson “tore some ligaments” in his toe, ending his season.
Johnson didn’t do any drills at the NFL Combine or run a 40-yard dash, and then he also sat out Michigan’s pro day since he was dealing with a new hamstring injury.
However, the most concerning medical red flag is Johnson’s knee. He had surgery on his knee in the spring of 2023, which caused him to miss the first three games of Michigan’s championship season. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that teams are concerned about Johnson’s knee shortening his NFL career.
“Michigan CB Will Johnson has a knee issue that’s been flagged,” Breer wrote prior to the draft. “It shouldn’t affect him in the short term, but teams are concerned it could impact his longevity.”
The exact details of that knee issue are unknown, but it has caused Johnson’s stock to plummet. The fact that he missed so much time in college and then was limited throughout the pre-draft process has certainly scared some teams.
Johnson is now one of the top prospects available entering the second round of the draft, and all eyes will be on the cornerback to see where he lands.
There are a number of teams in need of a cornerback, including the Miami Dolphins, particularly with Jalen Ramsey potentially on his way out via a trade.
Other teams that could use a CB include the Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, Washington Commanders, San Francisco 49ers, and Baltimore Ravens, among others.
At this point, Johnson certainly seems worth the gamble even with his injury issues.