Injury issues continue to plague Michigan Wolverines cornerback Will Johnson. A player who was once talked about as potentially the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, fell out of the first round on Thursday night.
There were mock drafts that indicated Johnson could fall out of the first round of the 2025 NFL draft. It seemed crazy, though. The third-team AP All-American was a dominant player for the Wolverines when he was on the field, which he was for most of his career.
Johnson had some injury problems as a sophomore. He missed three games and wasn't able to finish against Ohio State in 2023. In 2024, there were even more problems as Johnson missed seven games.
That carried over to the offseason. He missed the NFL combine and the Michigan Wolverines Pro Day. The former five-star cornerback did hold a private workout for NFL teams, but reportedly ran a 4.6 time in the 40-yard dash.
Despite that, Johnson was stellar on the field. Marvin Harrison Jr. had struggles in his one-on-one matchups against Will Johnson, who shut down other NFL receivers in his time with Michigan football.
Michigan CB Will Johnson Jr. has a knee issue that has concerned some NFL teams and helps explain why he still has not been selected.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 25, 2025
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN the injuries were a real concern.
"Michigan CB Will Johnson has a knee issue that has concerned some NFL teams and helps explain why he still has not been selected," The NFL insider posted.
When Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers passed on Will Johnson, along with the Lions and Packers, who have glaring needs at cornerback, you knew the concerns were real.
It was a great night for the Michigan Wolverines, but a rough one for Johnson.