Michigan’s Will Johnson was mocked to the 49ers in Daniel Jeremiah’s latest mock draft
Earlier on Tuesday, we discussed the potential of the San Francisco 49ers bringing in a lower-level free agent who could take the place of Charvarius Ward. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah released his second mock draft and penciled in a cornerback at No. 11 overall for the Niners.
In Jeremiah’s mock, three defensive linemen and two offensive tackles were selected in the first ten picks. At No. 11, players such as Walter Nolen, Mykel Williams, Kenneth Grant, and Armand Membou were available. But cornerback Will Johnson was the selection:
Johnson is a scheme fit, and his size will play well in a division featuring wide receivers built like power forwards.
Johnson resembles and has mannerisms similar to those of All-Pro Patrick Surtain Jr. I’m not saying he’s destined to be one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, but his makeup is there.
Johnson is listed at 6’2, 202 pounds. When cornerbacks have that frame, it doesn’t always look like they are running or moving as fast as 185-pound cornerbacks. Athleticism is far from an issue for Johnson. He was listed on Bruce Feldman’s annual freak list heading into the 2024 season. Johnson, who was the defensive MVP of the 2023 national championship game, reportedly ran the 3-cone drill in 6.57 seconds. That would have been the fastest time for a cornerback at the NFL Combine in the previous two years.
This past season, Johnson allowed a passer rating of 52.6 on 26 targets. In 2023, he was targeted 37 times and allowed a passer rating of 30.9. The lack of targets is telling and a sign that either team wasn’t interested in throwing Johnson’s way, or, if they were, the receiver wasn’t open.
Johnson might lack the top end, 4.3 40-yard dash speed, but so did Surtain. If you’re technically sound and have an understanding of the type of routes a wideout can run at the specific depth, you’re just fine running in the high 4.4s.
Johnson has all the tools to be a lockdown cornerback in the NFL, and there really isn’t anything negative to say about him. From a talent perspective, he’s one of the top ten talents in the draft.
The question the 49ers must ask is whether adding a cornerback in the first round will help their defense reach its peak quicker or whether those resources should be allocated to another position or player.