As the Green Bay Packers didn't add many new players to their roster during the first wave of free agency—signing only Aaron Banks, Nate Hobbs, and Mecole Hardman—they'll have some work to do in the 2025 NFL Draft.
At this point, fans and pundits alike seem to be split on what the Packers will do in the first round with the 23rd overall selection.
Some feel they'll go the offensive route and buck tradition by taking a wide receiver in the first round since drafting Javon Walker at No. 20 overall in 2002.
Others, meanwhile, feel they'll focus on defense and draft a replacement for cornerback Jaire Alexander, who most expect to be released or traded at some point this offseason.
In the latest mock draft from our friends at NFL Spin Zone, writer Sayre Bedinger has Green Bay going with the latter. And, yes, cornerback is the play here.
Some believe the necessity at the position isn't quite as important for Green Bay following the addition of Hobbs. But it's important to remember that the former Raider does his best work at the nickel position. So, finding some perimeter help is still necessary.
And that statement rings true even if Alexander is retained, as he's just become too unreliable from an injury standpoint, missing 34 of 68 regular-season games over the past four years.
So, the need is undoubtedly there. And if this particular mock comes to fruition, the Packers would end up with arguably the best cornerback in the class.
NFL Spin Zone mock draft has the Packers landing Will Johnson at No. 23 overall
In Bedinger's mock at NFL Spin Zone, Green Bay will land Michigan cornerback Will Johnson with the 23rd overall pick in the first round. Here's a bit of the analysis:
"I’ve said before, and I’ll say again," Bedinger wrote, "the Packers should be absolutely praying for this scenario in the first round. They very oddly passed on cornerbacks in last year’s draft and that’s put them in a rough situation here in 2025.
"Will Johnson had been considered one of the highest-floor prospects in this year’s class but the idea of him being on par with the likes of Pat Surtain II might have been overblown," Bedinger continued. "Still, he’s got good size and ball skills at the position and is technically sound. He would be a great pick for the Packers."
Bedinger is certainly on the money in saying Johnson "would be a great pick," as the former Michigan Wolverine is undoubtedly pro-ready heading into the draft.
A two-time All-American, Johnson racked up 68 total tackles, 10 passes defended, and nine interceptions in his three years in Ann Arbor, including three pick-sixes. His 2024 campaign was cut short by a turf-toe injury, but he still logged a pair of picks and two of those pick-sixes in just six games.
At 6-foot-2 and 194 pounds with a 76-inch wingspan, Johnson has great size and length to be disruptive and also excels in both man and zone coverage, which is a great asset to have at such a young age. The 22-year-old is also a strong tackler who can wrap up ball carriers with ease.
He can be vulnerable to double-moves from receivers at times and does have a tendency to gamble when playing the football, which could lead to him getting burned more often against professional receivers.
But the positives far outweigh the negatives.
Bedinger's first sentence may be the most accurate in this mock draft, as the Packers may need a prayer for Johnson to fall all the way to No. 23.
Other mocks have him going in the top 10, possibly to the New Orleans Saints at No. 9, and the Arizona Cardinals could potentially grab him at No. 16 if he's still available.
There are several other elite cornerbacks in this draft that the Packers could get with the 23rd pick. But if Johnson is there, Green Bay should absolutely pull the trigger.