Michigan wide receiver Cornelius Johnson becomes the 13th Wolverine picked in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Cornelius Johnson, a Michigan wide receiver, posted outstanding testing statistics at the NFL Combine and was selected in the draft.
Cornelius Johnson, a former Michigan wide receiver, is the second Wolverine wide receiver and the 13th U-M player to be selected in the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit. Following five years at Michigan and a successful pre-Draft process at the Shrine Bowl and NFL Combine, Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers selected Johnson with the 253rd overall choice on Saturday.
Johnson, the 13th former Michigan player selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, extends the school record and moves the Wolverines within one of Georgia’s all-time record.
Johnson’s selection reflects his physical talent and improvement, as well as a triumph for a University of Michigan program that is frequently questioned due to the team’s run-first strategy.
Arriving on-campus as a four-star recruit and the top prospect from the state of Connecticut, Johnson appeared in 12 games as a freshman in 2019, catching his first touchdown from Shea Patterson against Michigan State. He started half of U-M’s games in the shortened 2020 season, then emerged as the Wolverines’ leading receiver in 2021 in the wake of Ronnie Bell’s injury.
Johnson led Michigan in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns en route to its first of three straight Big Ten titles. He again led the team in receiving scores in 2022, highlighted by his 160 yards and two touchdowns against Ohio State. Though his 2023 season was somewhat overshadowed statistically by Roman Wilson, Johnson had a career high in receptions (47), added 40 rushing yards and improved as a blocker to help U-M on its path to an undefeated, championship-winning season.
Johnson stands 6-foot-3 and possesses the build of an NFL receiver. As proven by the 2022 Ohio State game, he combines his stature with quickness, strong route running, and the ability to stay on his feet during contact. Johnson silenced doubters in 2023, topping college football in contested catch rate (82%), according to Pro Football Focus. Though his stats were rarely impressive, he made challenging and crucial catches when Michigan needed them.
His frame and testing statistics at the NFL Combine established the profile of a guy who was chosen as a low-risk, high-reward investment.
Michigan hopes to set an NFL Draft record with at least 15 players selected this year — in an event that’s within an hour of the Big House.
“I think there’s an outside chance for, I would say 17 is the number,” NFL Draft analyst Joel Klatt said this week. “Here’s what I wonder: Are we going to see Jim Harbaugh load up on 7th-round picks through trades just to get the record? Is that a possibility? Obviously being a little bit facetious there, but I do think that there’s 17 guys that legitimately have a chance.
“I would say those late rounds — 6th and 7th round in particular and the 5th round — you’re going to see a lot of Wolverines taken. They were so deep. All of their ‘role players’ [were] draftable players.”
Roman Wilson was the first U-M receiver picked at the 2024 NFL Draft; he was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 84th overall pick.
Be the first to comment