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The Green Bay Packers got Michigan cornerback Will Johnson at No. 23 overall in Dane Brugler's seven-round mock draft for The Athletic on Wednesday, now eight days out before the start of the 2025 NFL draft.
Brugler's picks for the Packers included Johnson, his No. 2 cornerback in the class, plus help along the defensive front and at wide receiver during the first four rounds.
Johnson (6-1, 196) fell into the Packers' range for Brugler, who loves the player but believes several factors could contribute to a fall down the board in the first round.
"I wouldn’t be surprised to see Johnson go as high as No. 11 to the 49ers, but he might still be on the board in the 20s," Brugler wrote. "He declined to run the 40-yard dash at his pro day and the medicals will be a factor for several teams, but the tape shows a really good football player."
Johnson missed seven games with shoulder and toe injuries in 2024. He didn't test during the combine or at his pro day. But the Packers would have to consider him if he fell to 23.
Johnson -- who intercepted nine passes and was a two-time All-American at Michigan -- would give the Packers a player with No. 1 cornerback potential to replace Jaire Alexander, who is still expected to be traded at some point this offseason. It's possible Johnson could be a Week 1 starter on the outside even after the Packers signed Nate Hobbs to a four-year deal.
After Johnson in the first round, Brugler gave the Packers a defensive tackle in Toledo's Darius Alexander, a receiver in Stanford's Elic Ayomanor and an edge rusher in Texas' Barryn Sorrell, addressing big and obvious needs in the defensive front and at pass catcher. Later in the draft, the Packers got depth along the offensive line and competition at tight end, linebacker and quarterback to finish off Day 3.
Here are the Packers' eight picks in Brugler's mock draft:
This draft class would certainly check boxes for the Packers. Johnson is possibly a top-15 player in the class, and he plays a premium position where the Packers could use a special player. Alexander and Sorrell could give the Packers some much needed competition and possibly future starters along the defensive front. Ayomanor can be a frustrating receiver, but he checks almost every box for the Packers at the position -- making him a possible Day 2 option. One could argue with using Day 3 picks at tight end, linebacker and quarterback, three positions where the Packers are just fine entering the 2025 draft, especially with only eight picks total, but every position could use competition and long-term needs are always worth addressing early.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers start Dane Brugler's 7-round mock draft with Michigan CB Will Johnson
Continue reading...
Brugler's picks for the Packers included Johnson, his No. 2 cornerback in the class, plus help along the defensive front and at wide receiver during the first four rounds.
Johnson (6-1, 196) fell into the Packers' range for Brugler, who loves the player but believes several factors could contribute to a fall down the board in the first round.
"I wouldn’t be surprised to see Johnson go as high as No. 11 to the 49ers, but he might still be on the board in the 20s," Brugler wrote. "He declined to run the 40-yard dash at his pro day and the medicals will be a factor for several teams, but the tape shows a really good football player."
Johnson missed seven games with shoulder and toe injuries in 2024. He didn't test during the combine or at his pro day. But the Packers would have to consider him if he fell to 23.
Johnson -- who intercepted nine passes and was a two-time All-American at Michigan -- would give the Packers a player with No. 1 cornerback potential to replace Jaire Alexander, who is still expected to be traded at some point this offseason. It's possible Johnson could be a Week 1 starter on the outside even after the Packers signed Nate Hobbs to a four-year deal.
After Johnson in the first round, Brugler gave the Packers a defensive tackle in Toledo's Darius Alexander, a receiver in Stanford's Elic Ayomanor and an edge rusher in Texas' Barryn Sorrell, addressing big and obvious needs in the defensive front and at pass catcher. Later in the draft, the Packers got depth along the offensive line and competition at tight end, linebacker and quarterback to finish off Day 3.
Here are the Packers' eight picks in Brugler's mock draft:
- 1.23: CB Will Johnson, Michigan
- 2.54: DL Darius Alexander, Toledo
- 3.87: WR Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
- 4.124: DE Barryn Sorrell, Texas
- 5.159: OL Joe Huber, Wisconsin
- 6.198: TE Thomas Fidone II, Nebraska
- 7.237: LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kentucky
- 7.250: QB Kurtis Rourke, Indiana
This draft class would certainly check boxes for the Packers. Johnson is possibly a top-15 player in the class, and he plays a premium position where the Packers could use a special player. Alexander and Sorrell could give the Packers some much needed competition and possibly future starters along the defensive front. Ayomanor can be a frustrating receiver, but he checks almost every box for the Packers at the position -- making him a possible Day 2 option. One could argue with using Day 3 picks at tight end, linebacker and quarterback, three positions where the Packers are just fine entering the 2025 draft, especially with only eight picks total, but every position could use competition and long-term needs are always worth addressing early.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers start Dane Brugler's 7-round mock draft with Michigan CB Will Johnson
Continue reading...
