Cornelius Johnson NFL Draft Overview
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6′-3″
Weight: 212 pounds
School: Michigan
2024 NFL Draft: Cornelius Johnson Scouting Report
After spending the past five seasons with the Michigan Wolverines, wide receiver Cornelius Johnson is taking his game to the next level in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Connecticut native is coming off an impressive season, hauling in 47 receptions for 604 yards and a touchdown while helping Michigan win the national championship.
Johnson first joined the college football ranks in 2019 but didn’t see much of a role until the COVID-impacted 2020 campaign. Appearing in six games, the wideout finished the truncated season with 16 receptions for 254 yards and three touchdowns. He earned a larger role in 2021, hauling in 39 receptions for 620 yards and three touchdowns. While he took a bit of a step back in 2022, he still finished with 32 receptions for 499 yards and a career-high six touchdowns.
Strengths
- Hits all the physical requirements to succeed in the NFL – large build with above-average athleticism;
- Strong, physical player with the muscle required to beat cornerbacks in contested situations;
- Excels at high-pointing the football and timing his jump;
- Soft, reliable hands – rarely drops a target;
- Good fit for a run-heavy scheme – doesn’t shy away from blocking work.
Weaknesses
- Subpar route runner – rounds routes and needs too many steps to make his cuts;
- Five years of college play – historically, this much experience is a bad thing;
- Advanced age means there probably isn’t much room for growth;
- Doesn’t break as many tackles as you’d expect from someone with his build;
- Never earned a major target share in college.
NFL Comparison: Corey Davis
Teams With Need At Position: New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers
Projection: Round 6
Bottom Line on Cornelius Johnson In the 2024 NFL Draft
Cornelius Johnson enters the NFL Draft as a decent player with a high ceiling that is unlikely to ever be reached. Based on testing numbers alone, the wide receiver has the size, speed, and overall athleticism to last in this league for years to come. He had a 94th percentile speed score and a 79th percentile burst score, and some of his closest athletic comparisons are Marvin Harrison Jr., Justin Jefferson, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Eric Decker.
These raw numbers show that Cornelius Johnson could develop into a starting-caliber player, but he probably won’t be anything more than a Day 3 pick in the NFL Draft. Johnson’s play doesn’t match his athleticism, as his routes are sloppy and he’s not nearly as good after the catch as you’d expect. Additionally, he’s a fifth-year Senior, and seeing as he never put it all together against collegiate competition, it’s hard to imagine him figuring it out at the game’s highest level.
Even if Cornelius Johnson never lives up to his potential, he still has something to offer a team in the NFL Draft. The present-day version of Johnson knows how to use his athletic gifts in contested situations, meaning that he’s never truly covered. The 6′-3″, 212-pound wideout is bigger than any cornerback he’ll ever face, and he times his jumps well with the ball in the air. This skillset gives him the potential to carve out a long career as a depth receiver with special teams upside.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
