The Miami Dolphins have taken the "Green Bay Packers South" nickname too far.
San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson was the guy Packers fans had pounded the table for. He was this year's Cooper DeJean or Jaxon Smith-Njigba. All signs had pointed toward Johnson going way earlier than the Packers' first pick at No. 52 overall, but it's Jeff Hafley's Dolphins that have inflicted the heartbreak.
It's not surprising. Johnson checked every box for the Packers, so why not the Dolphins, too? Brian Gutekunst's former right-hand man, Jon-Eric Sullivan, is the new GM in Miami, and Hafley is their new head coach. Sullivan has taken The Packer Way with him to Florida.
Packers' dreams of landing Chris Johnson have officially gone up in smoke
The Dolphins selected Johnson at No. 27 overall. For a moment, it felt like he might fall all the way out of the first round and potentially into the Packers' trade-up range on Friday night.
It would've been a perfect fit for new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon.
The Packers reportedly had interest. ESPN's Matt Miller noted that Johnson had "plenty of fans in the team's scouting department."
And for good reason. The San Diego State product boasts the elite athleticism the Packers covet, and he offers true CB1 potential. Per Pro Football Focus, Johnson gave up a passer rating of only 16.1 while intercepting four passes last season. It's why falling to No. 52 overall would've been the undeniable dream scenario for the Packers.
It wasn't to be.
The Dolphins have inflicted plenty of damage already on the Packers this offseason. First by stealing Sullivan, who was Gutekunst's tag-team partner, and then Hafley, and then Malik Willis. The list goes on.
Fortunately, it's a deep class at cornerback.
Tennessee's Jermod McCoy is still there. Injury concerns prevented him from being one of the top cornerbacks drafted, and it remains to be seen whether the Packers would consider him at No. 52. His college teammate, Colton Hood, is also one of the best prospects remaining.
At other positions of need, Missouri edge-rusher Zion Young, offensive lineman Chase Bisontis, and wide receiver Chris Brazzell remain available. The Packers have a great shot at landing a difference-maker when they hit the clock, trade up or otherwise.
Johnson, though, won't be a Packer. Hafley's Dolphins inflicted some draft-day heartbreak on his former team.
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