Reports on Sunday indicate that the Las Vegas Raiders are potentially looking to part ways with another starting cornerback in Jack Jones. Should this come to fruition, the Raiders will face an immediate need for high-caliber talent in the upcoming NFL Draft to bolster their cornerback room.
Among the prospects with the potential to make an early impact is Will Johnson, a cornerback from the University of Michigan.
Las Vegas Raiders Eyeing CB After Moving On From Jack Jones
Despite a final year in Ann Arbor that was hampered by injuries and perhaps didn’t fully meet the lofty expectations set upon him, Johnson is still widely regarded as a top-tier talent, often placed within the top 15 of draft boards. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein draws a comparison between Johnson and current NFL cornerback Jaycee Horn, suggesting that the former Wolverine possesses Pro Bowl potential.
“Teams love big, fluid cornerbacks with ball production and that is exactly what Johnson offers,” Zierlein wrote. “He’s instinctive and plays with good body control and change of direction in space. He can play man coverage, but he’s at his best when playing with his eyes forward instead of chasing routes downfield.”
Zierlein further elaborated on Johnson’s strengths, noting, “Johnson displays good pre-snap recognition and can read and anticipate routes/throws at a high level. While he plays the role of thief in coverage, he needs to balance that mentality with a healthy respect for NFL route-runners, as he might lack the recovery speed to close the distance at a desired rate. He has coveted traits and his areas of concern fail to stand out as impediments for what could become a long, successful career as a future Pro Bowler.”
Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema also holds Johnson in high regard, ranking him as the third-best cornerback in the draft class, just behind Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Texas’ Jahdae Barron. Overall, PFF places Johnson at No. 13 on their comprehensive big board.
Sikkema’s analysis highlights Johnson’s physical attributes and playing style: “Johnson is a long, lean cornerback with elite foot quickness and change-of-direction fluidity,” he wrote. “His limited long speed will create questions about his man coverage reliability in the NFL, but having him play off coverage with his eyes on the ball as a zone-scheme wide cornerback could allow him to make impactful plays more often.”
For the Raiders and their new head coach Pete Carroll, Johnson presents an intriguing option: a smart, sizeable cornerback with a physical playing style and demonstrated ball skills. However, the crucial question remains whether they would be willing to utilize their No. 6 overall pick to secure his services.