The Jacksonville Jaguars entered the 2025 offseason with clear needs. They'll have the chance to address a few of them in free agency but have enough draft picks to take care of most of them in this year's NFL Draft. Moreover, they're set to pick at No. 5, so they'll have the chance to select one of the top prospects at nearly every position, including Michigan cornerback Will Johnson. Jaime Eisner of The Draft Network thinks he should be the Jags' selection.
Eisner did a 2025 NFL Mock Draft and had Jacksonville taking Johnson, noting that he would be a welcome addition to what was one of the worst defenses in the whole league last year.
"Will Johnson is arguably the best cornerback in the class with great size and a knack for creating turnovers and pick-sixes. He'll help a Jacksonville defense that finished in the bottom three in the NFL in picks this season. Like in New England above, having a strong cornerback tandem can solve a lot of defensive problems. In this case, it's Johnson alongside Tyson Campbell."
Injuries limited Johnson to just six games in 2025, but he was highly productive when he suited up for the Wolverines, giving up 15 receptions on 25 targets for 183 yards and no touchdowns. Moreover, he allowed an opposing passer rating of 49.3 and logged two interceptions. The Michigan standout is arguably the best non-Travis Hunter cornerback in the upcoming draft and will probably be available when the Jags are on the clock at No. 5.
On the other hand, the Jags could also address the cornerback position in free agency. Byron Murphy II and D.J. Reed are a couple of legitimate options to fill the void opposite Tyson Campbell. The downside is that both will most likely command top market compensation. Then again, they are proven commodities.
The Jaguars can target Will Johnson in the draft if they go after Tee Higgins in the draft
The Jacksonville Jaguars' draft position changed throughout the 2024 season but ended up clinching the fifth overall selection. Three of the teams ahead of them — the Tennessee Titans, the Cleveland Browns, and the New York Giants) are in need of a quarterback, so the New England Patriots at No. 4 would be the only team that could realistically pick Will Johnson unless someone else moved up to the top 5.
Granted, the Pats need a cornerback opposite Christian Gonzales. However, they also have other needs and may not want to pass up the chance to either take defensive tackle Mason Graham, stud pass rusher Abdul Carter, or even Travis Hunter if he's still available. This should give the Jaguars a favorable chance to land Johnson.
It's also worth noting that waiting for the draft to bolster the cornerback position would allow the Jaguars to go all-in on wide receiver Tee Higgins, who's expected to be the crown jewel of free agency.
Throughout his five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, Higgins has been highly productive, catching 330 passes for 4,595 yards with 34 touchdowns. This is more impressive when you take into account that he plays opposite Ja'Marr Chase, one of the top receivers in the NFL.
In Jacksonville, Higgins would team up with the ascending Brian Thomas Jr. to form one of the most electrifying wide receiver tandems in the whole NFL. But if the Jags aren't interested in shelling out big bucks for the former Clemson Tiger, they could still fill other roster holes and then take Johnson in the draft.
The bottom line is that Will Johnson would not only give the Jacksonville Jaguars a starting cornerback but also the flexibility to address other needs earlier in the offseason.