Raiders Draft 2025: Will Johnson is a prototypical Pete Carroll cornerback

Michigan star checks off all the boxes Las Vegas’ new head coach seeks in defensive backs

Pete Carroll certainly has a type when it comes to cornerbacks for his football team: Big and fluid that have the ball production to match.

Michigan’s Will Johnson fits the mold of a prototypical Carroll cornerback. Standing at 6-foot-2 and 194 pounds, this Wolverine picked off two passes this past season for Michigan — both returned to the house for touchdowns — and has nine career picks (and three pick sixes) over the course of his three-year stint.

Carroll’s Las Vegas Raiders certainly can user a takeaway artists like Johnson.

In fact, the only “non-qualifier” in terms of Johnson fitting Carroll’s architype for a cornerback is he has a shorter arm length — 30 1/8 inches. During Carroll’s 14-year run with the Seattle Seahawks, the team traditionally eyed corners with 32 inch arms or higher.

By The Numbers
Will Johnson, Cornerback, Michigan

• 2024: 6 games, 14 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss, two interceptions (both returned for touchdowns), 3 passes defensed
• Career: 3 seasons (2022-24), 32 games, 68 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 9 interceptions (three returned for touchdowns), 10 passes defensed

But in every other aspect, Johnson fits the mold.

How He Fits

He’s a highly instinctive cornerback who is an ideal fit for the kind of defense Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham runs. While Carroll — a defensive-minded head coach — will undoubtedly sprinkle in his own philosophy to meld with Graham’s — Johnsons’ read and react skillset he displayed with the Wolverines is elite.

Las Vegas landing a cornerback who can determine pre-snap looks and communicate with fellow defenders would help Graham’s defense tremendously and Johnson has the ability to diagnose and spread the word.

Combine the mental aspect with the physical toolbox at Johnson’s disposal, and it’s easy to see why NFL teams covet a prospect of his type. The combination of size, length, football intelligence, and versatility allow teams to deploy Johnson in a variety of schemes and ways. He’s not strictly a man-press or zone cornerback.

The foundation is there for a CB1 who shuts down one side of the field by being a takeaway specialist that quarterback avoid — like former Raider Nnamdi Asomugha.

Thus it’s no surprise to hear the Raiders set up a Top 30 visit for the talented Michigan prospect.

Some may find sixth overall to the Raiders too high, but Las Vegas’ depth at the position isn’t ideal. Then again, some of Carroll’s biggest hits at cornerback were in later rounds (Richard Sherman, fifth, 2011; Bryon Maxwell, sixth, 2011; Jeremy Lane, sixth, 2012; Tariq Woolen, fifth, 2022).

Strengths

With the ideal frame, Johnson is a very fluid defender for his size. He’s able to backpedal and turn his hips smoothly to mirror receivers and he can bully smaller wideouts.

When tasked with zone coverage, his anticipation and route recognition jump out immediately as he showcases veteran-like football IQ. Johnson shows the ability to dart on throws and make a play on the ball in flight. And when asked to press his assignment, the cornerback uses his length to expertly disrupt timing and being the ultimate nuisance to receiver and quarterback, alike.

Johnson’s ability to use the sideline as an extra defender is a huge plus as that type of intelligence and leverage offer shutdown-corner qualities.

He made some of his biggest collegiate plays on the biggest stage — the College Football Playoffs, namely — showcasing high-pressure situations bother Johnson none.

Johnson was so impactful that Michigan had him travel with the opposition’s top receiving option to limit what the opponent could do.

Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Weaknesses

Opportunistic quarterbacks and receivers have taken advantage of Johnson’s high football IQ with double moves. Johnson does have a penchant to peek in the backfield looking for interceptions leaving him vulnerable.

And this doubly hurts as Johnson’s recovery speed doesn’t match his straight-line speed.

To put it in current Raiders terms, Jack Jones is often susceptible to the same thing, for example.

Because Johnsons’ recovery speed doesn’t quite sync with his straight-line speed, the Wolverines cornerback can get too grabby and in the NFL, that’ll lead to penalties or worse — getting torched for a big gain or touchdown.

While Johnson does show a willingness to get down and dirty in run support, he needs to be more physical at the next level against pro-level blockers who are both fast and strong. He’ll also need refinement when it comes to form tackling as Johnson shows up as an arm-tackler too frequently leading to whiffs. (Ironically, he’d fit right in with a Las Vegas team who missed tackles frequently in 2024).

Projection

Considered a Top 10 talent in the 2025 NFL Draft, Johnson is projected to go early to mid first round.

However, teams may be wary due to Johnson only playing six games due to a painful turf toe injury. Johnson also recently suffered a hamstring injury training for Michigan’s Pro Day which sidelined him from working out. He is scheduled to have a private workout on April 14, according to ESPN.

“It was kind of just (something that happened when I) got back from my toe (injury) in early January,” Johnson told the Detroit Free Press, about the injury. “When you’re doing the training we’re doing like this, it’s pretty intense, so just trying to run as fast as I can and hammy wasn’t ready for that yet.”

Taking all that into consideration, Johnson could go anywhere in the first round.

A team to keep an eye on in terms of Johnson: The Los Angeles Chargers.

Not only was Jim Harbaugh Johnson’s coach at Michigan, but the Bolts have a need at cornerback and with the team picking 22nd overall, Los Angeles could either wait for Johnson to potentially fall or trade up to snare the talented corner.