Cornelius Johnson, WR, Michigan
Size:
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 212 pounds
Arm Length: 31 7/8’’
Hand Size: 8 5/8"
Accomplishments:
Four-time letterman • Three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree
“Cornelius Johnson has the physical tools and knowledge of leveraging to draft and develop.”
Strengths:
NFL body/frame
Developmental upside
Physical tools/traits
Concerns:
Limited career production
Explosiveness
Hip tightness
Film Analysis:
Cornelius Johnson was headed toward becoming an NFL draft riser after his 2021 season. That season he showcased quickness, route running, and leveraging to get open consistently. For a bigger framed receiver, Johnson does a good job of selling vertical routes. He pushes vertically to stress the defender’s hips. He can free up space underneath or across the defensive back’s face. Johnson knows how to use his frame to separate the ball from the defender on short and intermediate routes.
When given a runway to gear up against off-coverage, his route stems are crisp and effective to move the defender off their mark. He does an adequate job of finding soft spots in the zone and presenting his frame to this QB. He’s an adequate blocker but could benefit from consistency with his hand placement.
Despite his promising 2021 campaign, Johnson has never seen the target share to replicate that season’s success. He operates for an old-school, run-first offense under head coach Jim Harbaugh. This has limited Johnson’s production and development. He has shown some hip tightness when attempting to break in and out of his breaks versus tight man coverage.
For teams that are looking for a WR4 with upside, Johnson could be their guy. With his combination of height, weight, and build-up speed, Johnson can follow the path of fellow Michigan WRs Donovan Peoples-Jones and Nico Collins.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Developmental Traits
Written By: Damian Parson
Exposures: Penn State (2023), Purdue (2023), Minnesota (2023)
