Steelers Get Another Shot to Scout Highly-Rated Michigan CB
The Pittsburgh Steelers top brass skipped the Michigan pro day last month while Aaron Rodgers was visiting the team’s facility in Pittsburgh, but they’re getting another chance to get a close look at a potential Wolverines first-round draft pick next week.
Cornerback Will Johnson did not work out at the Michigan pro day on March 21, citing a hamstring injury he suffered back in February. Johnson also did not participate in the 2025 NFL Combine. The potential first-found cornerback will have his own pro day this coming Monday, giving the Steelers another shot to check him out.
Johnson is one of the top cornerback prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft class, and is expected to be off the board when the Steelers pick at No. 21 overall. Johnson is currently the No. 12 overall player on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board.
But that hasn’t stopped the Steelers from getting close looks at other top prospects. They’re bringing No. 4 Shedeur Sanders and No. 14 Shemar Stewart to UMPC Rooney Sports Complex for pre-draft visits, and sent running backs coach Eddie Faulkner to Boise State for No. 6 Ashton Jeanty’s pro day. Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan were at the pro day of No. 16 cornerback Jahdae Barron.
It’s not crazy to suggest that Johnson could make it to the Steelers. NFL.com writer Lance Zierlein did just that in one of his mock drafts, predicting the Steelers to get lucky with Johnson at No. 21.
“The slide ends for Johnson,” wrote Zierlein. “If he runs a strong 40-yard dash at Michigan’s pro day, that will boost his stock. For now, he ends up taking his impressive ball talent to Pittsburgh.”
Zierlein grades Johnson as a “boom-or-bust potential” prospect. Johnson totaled 68 combined tackles, nine interceptions, two pick-sixes, and 10 passes defended while playing for Michigan.
He was shelved by a turf toe injury halfway through the Wolverines’ schedule this past season.
Brendan Howe contributed.