The Green Bay Packers do not have a first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, complicating the team's ability to address some glaring needs ahead of a season with Super Bowl aspirations. However, the other day there is someone their front office would reportedly love to get.
According to ESPN's NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller, Green Bay has been "widely linked" to cornerback in the 2026 NFL Draft and has spent a potential Day 2 pick at the position. According to Miller, one name worth keeping in mind is San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson, who has "a lot of fans" in the scouting department.
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Packers reporter Rob Demowski also shared that cornerback is widely viewed within the organization as one of the top Packers draft needs. While Green Bay still likes KeySean Nixon, they want to add another "impact player" to start opposite him.
Corner is an obvious issue on the Packers' depth chart. For now, the team will start Nixon and Carrington Valentine on the outside, with only Benjamin Saint-Juste, Kamal Hayden and Shemar Bartholomew as boundary corner options behind them.
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For a team already facing questions about its ability to generate pressure while Micah Parsons (ACL tear) is sidelined, and he's also thin on the interior, help in the secondary is vital. Of course, it's far from certain that Johnson is still available at the 52nd overall pick.
Coming out of San Diego State, Johnson certainly matches the length requirements that Green Bay prioritizes at 6-foot and 193 pounds with 30 5/8″ arms. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein compared him to cornerback Byron Murphy, highlighting Johnson's scheme versatility with good footwork, excellent ability to mirror into coverage, and good ball skills.
