NFL Exec: Michigan's Will Johnson Same 'Caliber' Prospect as Sauce Gardner, Stingley

It's no secret that Will Johnson is one of the best cornerbacks in college football, and one NFC scouting director believes the Michigan star is on the same level as a pair of former first-rounders.

"Sauce [Gardner], [Derek] Stingley, he's that caliber of a corner prospect," the NFC scouting director said, per ESPN's Jordan Reid. "I'd be shocked if he wasn't a top-10 pick next year."

Stingley and Gardner were taken third and fourth overall in the 2022 NFL draft, respectively, and have since gone on to be two outstanding NFL cornerbacks. Whether Johnson has what it takes to join similar ranks is still to be determined, but he's shown flashes of greatness in his first two seasons with the Wolverines.

In his first season with Michigan in 2022, he had 27 tackles, three pass deflections and three interceptions. He followed that up by recording 27 tackles, four pass deflections, four interceptions and a touchdown in 2023 while helping lead the Wolverines to a national title.

Assuming Johnson's positive trajectory continues, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him find his way into the top 10 of next year's NFL draft. Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski has Johnson projected to be the 10th pick in the draft in his way-too-early mock draft.