Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Cooper DeJean. Emeka Egbuka. Green Bay Packers fans are no strangers to draft-day heartbreak.
San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson takes the title of the consensus draft crush among Packers fans this year, and that reportedly extends to the team.
ESPN's Matt Miller recently noted that Johnson has "plenty of fans in the team's scouting department." However, without a Day 1 pick, the Packers may not get a chance to draft him. Based on Miller's latest intel, Johnson is soaring toward the first round.
"Sent my rankings around to a bunch of scouts for feedback. Every single one told me to move Johnson up. He's loved—especially once coaches got involved," Miller writes.
And move Johnson up, he did. Miller has him 23rd in his draft rankings, noting that Johnson's popularity with NFL position coaches is "boosting his stock into Round 1."
Chris Johnson may be ascending out of the Packers' draft range at No. 52
For what it's worth, the consensus board has Johnson at No. 39, which is still in the second round. That would put the San Diego State star, at the very least, in a comfortable trade-up range for the Packers, who don't pick until No. 52 overall.
However, Johnson's stock is rising, as the consensus board had him at No. 51 at the beginning of March. And if Miller is right, teams might be higher on Johnson than those in the media. All it takes is one team to love him, and the dream is over for the Packers.
We've seen it many times, prospects viewed as second-rounders going on the opening night.
The Packers have done it themselves. Quay Walker was 39th on the consensus board in 2022, but Green Bay selected him 22nd. In 2024, the Packers took Jordan Morgan 25th despite the consensus board ranking him 35th.
It's understandable why the Packers would be high on Johnson. He would be a home-run pick at No. 52.
Beyond the athleticism, the college production, and the potential to become a true CB1 in the NFL, Johnson has the attitude teams love.
"His 'give-a-s—' factor is to the moon … leader of the DB room … likeable kid — his parents did an amazing job," a scout told Dane Brugler of The Athletic. Johnson is the No. 3-ranked cornerback in Brugler's annual "The Beast" draft guide.
The good news for the Packers? If Johnson falls far enough, they have the draft ammunition to move up, especially after trading Dontayvion Wicks.
However, if NFL teams view Johnson as a first-rounder, the Packers can forget about it. It would take a monumental package to trade all the way up into Round 1, the kind of deal usually reserved for quarterbacks.
Anything can happen in the draft, but the Packers may feel the sting of no first-rounder here. They wouldn't undo the Micah Parsons trade, of course not, but the lack of a Day 1 pick could cost them a rising star at cornerback.
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