Chicago Bears NFL Draft Target: Will Johnson

Tanner Pearson - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - 5 hours ago

It's no secret that the Chicago Bears' strength has been and will forever be their defense. From the Monsters of the Midway during the 1980s to the Khalil Mack-led group that led this team to a division title in 2018, defense has been the calling card for this team since the dawn of time.

For this team to get back to the success they have been longing for, it will once again fall on the defense, as they need to set the tone. Targeting one of the best defensive players in the game could come in handy for the Bears, as they have an opportunity to draft Michigan cornerback Will Johnson in round one or two and could add him to this defense.

Already with one of the youngest and arguably one of the best secondaries in the game, Chicago continues to pour a ton of resources into its secondary. Jaylon Johnson, a second-round selection, has emerged as one of the best cornerbacks in the game, thus earning him a massive five-year extension in 2024.

Kyler Gordon and Jaquon Brisker were added to that secondary a year later, and with Gordon recently getting his extension, it would appear that Brisker is next. He needs to stay healthy for that to happen, but from all accounts, he does appear healthy and ready to contribute this season. Then comes the potential addition of Will Johnson, who would not only give this team another young body but also another body to build around, as Dennis Allen will have a ton of fun calling the defense this season.

When you talk about an ideal NFL cornerback and what they bring to the table, Will Johnson is the player that comes to mind, as he has all the attributes you're looking for. His 6-2, 194-pound frame makes him one of the bigger cornerbacks in this year's draft, and his overall skill set in how he attacks the ball gives him as high an upside as anyone.

Currently listed as the No. 3 cornerback, Johnson is also listed as the 14th-best player in this year's draft, so seeing the Bears take him at No. 10 may not be as far-fetched as you would think. Sure, taking him at No.10 could be a reach, but they can't afford to let him get away if he is the one they want.

Johnson has always been a massive piece to the Wolverines' defense. In his first two seasons, he combined for 54 tackles, seven interceptions, and one defensive score, thus solidifying himself as one of the top prospects in this year's draft. Then came last season, where Johnson struggled to duplicate his performance and dealt with an injury that limited him to just six games.

In those six games, Johnson picked up 14 tackles, but with two interceptions and three pass breakups, he was well on his way to a massive season. He also returned one of those interceptions for a touchdown and was again a big play waiting to happen.

Even if this may not be as popular a pick as some, some recent mock drafts have Johnson going to the Bears in round one, which tells you what most of the league thinks of him. Take NFL expert Lance Zierlein, for example, as he gave his thoughts on Johnson as a player.

“Teams love big, fluid cornerbacks with ball production, which is exactly what Johnson offers. He’s instinctive and plays with good body control and change of direction in space. He can play man coverage, but he’s at his best when playing with his eyes forward instead of chasing routes downfield. Johnson displays good pre-snap recognition and can read and anticipate routes/throws at a high level.”

That alone seems like a player the Bears would love to have, as they love the big, physical cornerbacks who know what they are doing and aren't afraid to play with their emotions. Again, it's not a need when you consider what the Bears already have in their secondary, but with quarterback, offensive line, Edge rusher, and cornerback being seen as the franchise positions, you can't rule anything out come draft weekend.