At 6-foot-2 and nearly 200 pounds, Michigan’s Will Johnson looks every bit the part of franchise cornerstone in the secondary—even before you flip on the tape. His ability to shadow top pass-catchers, seamlessly transition in off-man or zone schemes, and to take the ball away showcases one of the 2025 NFL Draft’s premier ballplayers, regardless of position.
With just a few weeks away from draft night, here are a few of my personal favorite landing spots for a future CB1 within an NFL secondary.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints have long favored a defense built around impactful, physical corners who can thrive in varying coverages. Marshon Lattimore (now with Washington) was the cornerstone in years past, and with Paulson Adebo also now gone, New Orleans could look to Johnson to become their headliner alongside Kool-Aid McKinstry.
With Brandon Staley now in the building to run things on defense under HC Kellen Moore, Johnson fits seamlessly into what Staley likes on the backend, where personnel trumps scheme. In addition to his man-coverage prowess, Johnson’s intelligence in zone would also allow him to thrive in Staley’s pattern-match principles.
The Saints have always disguised coverages well and rely on corners to read route concepts efficiently —an area where Johnson has consistently demonstrated a high-level ability at Michigan. His ability to squeeze vertical routes to the sideline while maintaining vision on the quarterback would elevate a secondary that has had issues with injuries and depth.
Chicago Bears
Johnson’s fit in Chicago’s defensive architecture is intriguing because of his adaptability. The Bears have Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, and Tyrique Stevenson in place, though you don’t avoid drafting a talent like Johnson simply because of the presence of those players—Johnson has the potential to be better than all of them, and quickly. His ability to break on passes, anticipate route combinations, and bait quarterbacks into mistakes would be a natural transition into Dennis Allen’s system. His length would also allow him to excel in Cover 3, where he can use his size to wall off deep routes while keeping vision on the quarterback to break on underneath throws.
The Bears also value corners who can be physical in run support, another trait that Johnson checks off as a willing tackler who understands leverage and does not shy away from contact. With the emergence of Gordon in the slot, along with Johnson and Stevenson as young, physical, perimeter defenders, adding the former Wolverine in Johnson would showcase one of football’s top young secondaries.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville’s defense, now under the guidance of DC Anthony Campanile, is expected to blend multiple coverage schemes, incorporating press-man, Cover 3, and match-zone concepts. It’s a hybrid approach that demands corners who can not only excel in isolation, but also process routes quickly and adjust accordingly.
For Johnson, it’s an ideal fit for Campanile’s vision due to his ability to thrive in multiple coverage structures. His discipline in press coverage would be valuable when Jacksonville plays single-high coverages, while his ability to stay patient and read downhill makes him a natural fit for match-zone principles. Additionally, Jacksonville flat-out needs another corner to pair with Tyson Campbell. And with Jacksonville’s front seven continuing to improve, having a ballplayer like Johnson would allow the Jaguars to be more aggressive in their pressure packages and coverage disguises.
