April 9, 2026, 11:47 a.m. CT

It’s not so much a matter of if, but when the Green Bay Packers will take a cornerback in the 2026 NFL Draft. According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, many within the team’s scouting department are fans of San Diego State’s Chris Johnson.

From Miller:  “I’ll echo the cornerback talk. The Packers have been widely connected to the second tier of corners in this class since the Senior Bowl. Chris Johnson (San Diego State) has plenty of fans in the team’s scouting department, from what I’ve heard.”

Green Bay’s link to Johnson makes sense, as he’s exactly what they look for at cornerback. Johnson checks the boxes for size and athleticism, after measuring in at 6-0, 193 pounds, and posting a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.82 at the scouting combine.

Johnson is ranked 42nd on the consensus board, making him a potential second-round target for the Packers at pick 52. Given Brian Gutekunst’s propensity for draft day trades and the lack of a first-round pick, it wouldn’t be surprising if he moved up or down.

A two-year starter at San Diego State, Johnson enjoyed a breakout season in 2025 when he totaled four interceptions (returning two for touchdowns) and broke up nine passes en route to being named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year.

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Capable of playing both man and zone coverage, Johnson is considered a scheme-versatile cornerback. He is also a reliable tackler who shows up in run support and aggressively attacks the ball—forcing five fumbles during his college career.

The Packers are reportedly still high on Keisean Nixon after he started all 17 games as the team’s No. 1 cornerback last season. While he finished tied for sixth in the NFL with 17 passes defensed, Nixon led all corners in penalties and wasn’t a model of consistency.

Depth at cornerback is a concern heading into 2026, as the Packers are expected to let former seventh-round pick Carrington Valentine and new free agent pick-up Benjamin St. Juste compete for the starting role opposite Nixon.

Meanwhile, Johnson has the tools to compete for snaps early and develop into a long-term starter.