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Todd McShay

Find the most comprehensive analysis on [Player Name], featuring Todd McShay’s evaluations. Official measurables, advanced analytics, and a scout’s eye provide the most in-depth breakdown of a prospect’s strengths and weaknesses, NFL draft projection, and potential at the next level.

Cornerback

Chris Johnson

Grade88 /100
Pos Rank4
OVR Rank35
School
SDSU

Experience

Played47
Started23

POSITION STATS LAST SEASON

INTs
4
PBU
7
Tackles
47
Todd McShay

Position-Specific Grades

COMBINE RESULTS

Height
6' 0"
Weight
193lbs
Todd McShay
ARM
30 5/8"
Todd McShay
HAND
9 7/8"
40-Yard Dash
4.4sec
Todd McShay
10-Yard Split
1.54sec
Broad Jump
10' 6"

The Takeaway

The Player

Johnson is a two-year starter who had his best season in 2025. After an uneven week of practice at the Senior Bowl, he eased concerns about his top-end speed by tying for the third-fastest 40 time among corners at the combine. He’s a fundamentally sound press corner who uses the proper hand to disrupt receivers at the line of scrimmage, stays balanced when flipping his hips, and doesn’t panic with his back turned to the quarterback. 

Johnson reads receivers’ breaks, tracks the ball well, and takes sound angles, and he doesn’t get pushed around at the top of his routes in off coverage. He’s quick to trigger, and he drives through the receiver when breaking on passes. He has big hands and possesses the timing and ability to stay in a receiver’s back pocket. Even though his arm length is below average, he’s good at breaking up passes. He had four interceptions last season and returned two of them for touchdowns. 

He can play a little tight in off coverage and at the top of his routes, and he doesn’t recover quite as well as his testing numbers would suggest. He competes, but his lack of length can show up in jump ball situations. While he primarily played out wide at San Diego State, he lined up in the slot 20 times last year, and his play was encouraging, despite the small sample size.

He made 83 solo tackles over the past two seasons. He squares up and wraps up as a run defender. He flashes good stopping power and forced five fumbles over the past three seasons. He can make an immediate impact in the NFL on special teams.

The Draft

Johnson is a top five corner, a top 50 overall prospect, and one of the best Group of 5 players in this year’s draft.

The Projection

Johnson has the traits to develop into an effective no. 2 corner while working in sub-packages and contributing on special teams early in his career. Kansas City corner Nohl Williams is an interesting comp—he didn’t get many snaps playing in a crowded secondary as a rookie last year, but he made the most of his opportunities, and he’s expected to start in 2026.