The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2026 NFL draft.
Brian Gutekunst has shown that he is not shy about trading up to get the player he wants. During the 2022 NFL Draft, Green Bay’s general manager traded the 53rd and 59th overall picks to the Minnesota Vikings for the 34th overall pick.
It’s a trade-up that Gutekunst could pull off again this season if a player that he likes is sitting there to start Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
That player could be Chris Johnson. The San Diego State cornerback checks in at No. 42 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A three-star recruit, Johnson had one interception and one pass deflection during his first two seasons at San Diego State University. He enjoyed a breakout season in 2023, recording 67 tackles, .5 tackle for loss, one interception and four pass deflections.
This past season, Johnson was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year after he recorded 49 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, four interceptions, nine pass deflections and two pick-sixes.
This past season Chris Johnson gave up zero touchdowns and had four interceptions.
The San Diego has the goods to be a shutdown CB at the next level and will make QBs pay for throwing in his area code.
A trade up candidate for the Packers if he is on the board to start Day 2. pic.twitter.com/IP6XJzD1gh
— Brennen Rupp (@Brennen_Rupp) March 17, 2026
Johnson is a scheme-versatile cornerback. He has experience playing man and zone coverage. He does a good job of being physical in press coverage to throw off the timing of the wide receiver. He’s comfortable with the action in front of him and has a quick trigger.
Johnson shows excellent field awareness and has a high football IQ. He has controlled feet in his backpedal and the foot quickness to mirror in coverage. The San Diego State cornerback has good reactionary quickness and does a good job of timing up his punch.
“Johnson is a sticky coverage player in man and zone coverages with excellent anticipation skills and click and close ability,” Devin Jackson, an NFL Draft writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer, said. “He has smooth feet in tight man coverage and transitions well out of his backpedal.”
Over the past two seasons, Johnson has recorded five interceptions and given up just one touchdown. He has plus ball skills and he will make quarterbacks pay for throwing into his area code. He does a great job of challenging wide receivers at the catch point. This past season he was targeted 43 times and gave up 18 receptions. Opposing quarterbacks didn’t challenge him often due to his stickiness in coverage and ball skills.
“Johnson is a physical player who is disruptive at the catch point, often running stride for stride with receivers down the field,” Jackson said. “He doesn’t always find the ball cleanly on downfield throws but is often in position to make plays.”
The Aztec cornerback is not shy coming up in run support and has recorded 29 stops over the past two seasons. He was tagged with just three missed tackles this past season and is quick to get his man to the ground to limit yards after the catch.
“He is a reliable tackler in space and can handle his own as a run defender,” Jackson said. “He won’t be blowing up run plays, but tackling is not an issue for Johnson.”
San Diego State CB Chris Johnson is TOUGH.
An elite special teamer and gunner, Johnson’s body of work in the run game on defense is impressive as well.
He missed three tackles all season, and two of them came in W14. Career 5% missed tackle rate.
All from one game here 🔽 pic.twitter.com/6hrCHs0VDh
— Cory (@fakecorykinnan) January 16, 2026
A team isn’t trading up in the second round to have Johnson play on special teams. However, his experience on special teams is a feather in his cap. Johnson logged 687 snaps on special teams and recorded 12 tackles during his time at San Diego State. He was named SDSU’s Special Teams Player of the Year for the 2023 season. During his prep career, he returned punts and kicks and also blocked three kicks. With his athleticism and his experience, Johnson could be a core special teams player.
Fit with the Packers
The Packers need an infusion of talent at cornerback. Gutekunst hasn’t used a Top 100 pick on the position since he drafted Eric Stokes with the 29th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Since the Stoke selection, Green Bay’s general manager has only used three picks on the position, with all three of those selections coming in the seventh round.
It’s time for Gutekunst to add a premium player to that position group and Johnson could be the ideal target if he is still on the board when Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft starts on April 24.
“Johnson excels as an off-man coverage player who has excellent route recognition, click and close ability, and is disruptive at the catch point,” Jackson said. “He has size and athleticism to develop into a plus starter at corner and is a scheme versatile player. He makes plays in both man and zone coverages.”
The Packers got a close look at Johnson during Senior Bowl week, with Jamal Lett, a defensive quality control coach for the Packers, coaching Johnson throughout practices down in Mobile. Sam Seale, Green Bay’s national scout attended multiple San Diego State games this past season.
Johnson checks the boxes and has the tools to develop into a lockdown cornerback. Don’t be shocked if Gutekunst pushes his chips to the middle of the table to go up and get the talented Aztec cornerback.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Unpacking Future Packers: No. 42, San Diego State CB Chris Johnson
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