Should Buffalo Bills trade up to draft top tier CB? The case for Will Johnson

Depending on what his drafting team considers him, Travis Hunter, the two-way star and Heisman Trophy winner from Colorado will either be the first cornerback or first wide receiver picked in the NFL Draft.

The widespread consensus is that the next cornerback who will come off the board is Michigan’s Will Johnson, and that could happen somewhere inside the top 10. If that proves to be true, unless the Buffalo Bills are willing to part with a whole lot of draft capital to trade up, he’ll be out of their range.

However, there has been some waffling on Johnson in a few circles, and some mock drafters have him slipping into the teens, while some have him all the way down in the 20s.

If he did happen to slide for whatever reason, at what point would it be worth it for general manager Brandon Beane - who is never averse to making draft night deals - to start working the phones?

Given their glaring hole on the boundary opposite Christian Benford, and the current underwhelming veteran free agent market, the draft seems like the best place to find a potential starter. And it would not be unprecedented for a rookie corner to start for Sean McDermott.

Tre’Davious White did it in 2017 as the No. 27 overall pick in the first round, and Benford emerged from the depths of the sixth round in 2022 to do so. If Johnson were somehow attainable, chances are he’d be able to join that twosome as a rookie starter.

Will Johnson helped Michigan win a national championship

In 2023, Johnson was one of the best defensive players in the country and he helped Michigan win the national championship, earning the game’s defensive MVP award. He started 11 games that year and earned first-team All-Big-10 honors as he picked off four passes, returned one for a TD, made 27 tackles, and allowed a miniscule 45.9 completion percentage into his coverage area.

In 2024 he was limited to six games due to a turf toe injury, though he still managed two interception return touchdowns. He did not work out at the combine or Michigan’s pro day on March 21 because he also was dealing with a hamstring issue, but April 14 is the day he will strut his stuff for scouts and that could determine which range he slots into.

There is no doubt the talent is there to be a very good starter in the NFL, perhaps even a Pro Bowler, especially in a zone-based scheme which McDermott prefers, even though there’s a hint that the Bills will incorporate more man coverage in 2025. Johnson stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 200 pounds so the size is exceptional, but he will need to improve his tackling as a pro.

McDermott was asked how important being a good, physical tackler is, and whether that can be taught.

“They have to have certain traits, so what you see on tape may not be a be-all, end-all, like may not be ‘Hey, they don’t tackle in college, so they must not be able to tackle for us,’” McDermott said. “A lot of it starts with our culture and are they willing to, if they’re on the fence, are they willing to kind of come on our side of the fence.

“The word that gets used is ‘willing’ to tackle or not. I’m not sure I love that, but there’s probably not a better word. If they show that they’re willing, we can help them with technique. The other piece is the element of ‘This is how we do things on our defense or special teams. If you want to be on the team and you want to contribute, then you’re going to have to tackle.’”

How far would Buffalo Bills have to trade up to get Will Johnson?

Let’s say the Bills are in love with Johnson and have to have him. At the very least, they would probably need to make sure they move ahead of Miami at No. 13 as Johnson could very well still be in play, and many mock drafters think the Dolphins are his landing spot.

Based on the NFL trade value chart devised by the website Drafttek.com, a variation of the old Jimmy Johnson trade chart, to make a draft pick-only trade with Dallas at No. 12 (worth 1,200 points) it would take the Bills’ No. 30 pick (580 points), and both second-rounders (combined 624 points) to even get the Cowboys to listen.

To save one of the second-rounders, it would take a combination of probably three or four of the picks they have in the fourth and fifth rounds, or perhaps the first-round pick in 2026. That’s a hefty price anyway you look at it, which makes it seem unlikely Beane would make that big of a move.

If Johnson really did fall like a stone, there are two intriguing teams to deal with. The Steelers at No. 21 (800 points) have only six picks in this draft, while the Vikings at No. 24 (740 points) have just four. Swapping places in the first round with both teams plus sending the second of its second-round picks (284) would more than get it done for Buffalo in each case.

Here’s what draft analysts are saying about Johnson

➤ Field Yates of ESPN in projecting him to Miami at pick No. 13 said, “I know the Dolphins must address their interior offensive line, but cornerback should not be overlooked. There is a big hole at CB2 in Miami opposite Jalen Ramsey, with Storm Duck and Cam Smith currently listed as options to start. Johnson has strong ball skills (nine career interceptions, including two pick-sixes in just six games last season) to pair with his great 6-foot-2 size. While there are some questions about his top-end speed, he’s a good example of a prospect who has enough tools to overcome any potential limitations.”

➤ Bucky Brooks of NFL.com said, “While the scouting community anxiously awaits a Johnson workout to confirm his speed and athleticism, the tape already reveals a plug-and-play pro with a scheme-diverse game. (He) possesses every tool needed to emerge as a perennial Pro Bowler. From his quick feet and flawless shadowboxing in press to his exceptional instincts, awareness and technique in off/zone coverage, Johnson can go deep into his bag to stymie elite pass catchers on the perimeter. Moreover, he can tweak his game weekly to put himself in the best position to make splash plays. Though critics worry about his long speed, explosive quickness and injury history, Johnson arrived at Michigan as a ballyhooed recruit and proceeded to play like a blue-chipper whenever he stepped on the field. Given his stellar performance and production as a starter for two-plus years in Ann Arbor, Johnson has the pedigree and game to be a CB1 in any system.”

Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for four decades including 35 years as the full-time beat writer for the D&C, he has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social. Sign up for his Bills Blast newsletter here:  https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast