Some mock drafts are in full swing, and a recent one from ESPN has the New England Patriots selecting a playmaking corner with the sixth overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft.
Michigan’s Will Johnson would be a fit for New England, according to ESPN’s Matt Miller.
Johnson has been a staple on the Michigan defense during his time in Ann Arbor. He has 68 combined tackles, nine interceptions, 10 pass deflections and three interceptions returned for touchdowns during his three seasons with the Wolverines.
Miller believes the Patriots could benefit from another corner, as they look to reload the defense.
He wrote:
Left tackle is an important need for the Patriots, but the offensive tackle class isn’t strong beyond Kelvin Banks Jr. Instead of reaching, the Patriots could fill another need at corner with Johnson, my top-rated prospect in the class. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Johnson fits the mold of Pat Surtain II, showing excellent ball skills and the physicality to hang with NFL wide receivers. He has been limited by injuries this season but has two interceptions, both of which were returned for touchdowns. Pairing Johnson with 2023 first-rounder Christian Gonzalez would give the Patriots a legitimate spot of strength on defense, and having two top corners on rookie contracts would give New England flexibility to build around them.
Johnson playing opposite Gonzalez would undoubtedly be a lethal combo, and it would give the Patriots one of the best corner tandems in the NFL.
There’s a lot of time between now and the NFL draft. Even still, the Patriots have a chance to land an impact playmaker within the first round. The organization has a lot of needs, and they’ll have a tightrope to walk in their decisions when filling them.
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