The Minnesota Vikings have a winner in J.J. McCarthy and are looking into adding more talent that won a national championship with Michigan.
According to KSTP's Darren Wolfson, the Vikings sent defensive backs coach Daronte Jones, considered one of Brian Flores' top defensive assistants and a future coordinator in the making, to Ann Arbor to watch three-time All-American cornerback Will Johnson at his pro day.
Many NFL teams sent scouts to Johnson's pro day as there are concerns about his speed translating to the NFL level. Johnson, ailing from a turf toe injury that forced him to miss six games for the Wolverines last season, did not end up running the 40-yard dash, per The Athletic's Dane Brugler.
Johnson's draft profile has become clouded by his decision to not run the drill at the NFL Combine, Michigan's initial pro day (due to a hamstring malady) and now his individual pro day. The concerns about his top-end speed will linger with just 10 days before the draft.
That could be to the benefit of the Vikings, who could land the consensus No. 2 cornerback behind Travis Hunter for a potential steal if they take the risk or see him fall far from his middle-of-the-first-round projections.
Johnson has garnered comparisons to Darius Slay and Jaycee Horn and is deemed a better fit for a zone scheme, which Brian Flores has deployed in the past (but has also shown a desire to play more man coverage).
Here's his scouting report from Pro Football Focus (PFF):
Johnson earned five starts in 2022 as a true freshman before starting 11 games in Michigan's national championship campaign in 2023. He missed most of his 2024 season due to a severe case of turf toe, as well as a minor shoulder injury. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound outside cornerback has some of the quickest feet you will see. Though his limited long speed makes zone schemes his best fit, he can play press-man due to how quick he is to stop, start and change direction. His long arms come in handy for forced incompletions, a number that was near the 55th percentile over the past two years. His frame is leaner and lighter, but he still shows decent effort in run defense. Strength and tackling aren't his strong suits, though, and he was even more inconsistent there in 2024. When Johnson keeps his eyes on the quarterback in off-zone coverage, he has good instincts to jump routes and bait throws, as evidenced by his nine interceptions and three pick-sixes in college
