The 2025 NFL Draft isn't far off, but it feels like a long time ago when Michigan star cornerback Will Johnson was penciled in as a top-five in the class. Those expectations were earned as Johnson dominated college football for the better part of his career. 

However, despite the on-field accolades and accomplishments, Johnson's 2025 NFL Draft stock has struggled to recapture the magic it found a year ago. While his turf toe injury understandably zapped some of the momentum, the recent string of mock drafts have seen Johnson fall into the middle of the first round. 

Elite talents rarely have that happen, even if the worst-case speculation that Johnson sat out The Game despite being healthy enough were to be true. Johnson's coverage rates should have evaluators comparing him to Sauce Gardner, but he's fallen to a range more in line with a good but not rare cornerback prospect.

So what has teams concerned with Johnson? Is it only the foot injury?

Fox Sports NFL Draft evaluator Rob Rang chimed in with his list of riskiest prospects in the class. Johnson ranked seventh. Here's his analysis.

"The first thing Johnson needs to prove to the NFL is that he is healthy, as he missed all but the first six games of the 2024 season with a turf toe injury and now won't be able to participate in Michigan's Pro Day workout due to a new issue with his hamstring. He has scheduled a private workout on April 14.

When healthy, Johnson is a proven difference-maker worthy of a first-round selection. The former five-star recruit earned All-Big Ten honors each of his three seasons in Ann Arbor, as well as defensive MVP honors of the 2024 national title game. He returned each of his two interceptions this past season back for touchdowns, giving him a school-record three over his career.

But at 6-foot-2, 194 pounds, Johnson isn't the consistently physical force that his size suggests, missing more tackles than he should. Further, he is a gambler in coverage, biting on underneath routes and leaving himself vulnerable to double moves. 

A fierce Michigan pass rush left opposing quarterbacks little time to test Johnson in college, but the nuanced route-running and precision passing he'll face in the NFL could be challenging."

Rang is a great evaluator whom I trust, and I've seen some of the small knocks that he mentioned in his write-up. Notably, though, it's interesting that he thinks Johnson is that risky of a prospect because of his run defense.

To me, that does not add up. NFL teams deal with average or worse-run defenders at cornerback all the time. If a cornerback can force turnovers or be a lockdown sticky presence, run defense is more about occupying a space than being an enforcer. 

Johnson does well enough to maintain his gap and blocker to feel like he won't be a net negative in the run game. His tackling must improve, especially given his physical capabilities, but it's not as if we've never seen someone get more aggressive or technically sound in tackling.

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