The Buffalo Bills successfully retained several key contributors from the 2024 season, re-signing standout players such as Josh Allen, Khalil Shakir, Gregory Rousseau, Terrel Bernard, and Christian Benford this offseason.
However, the team has yet to secure a definitive replacement for veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas, leaving them in need of additional depth at the position. As a result, they may be in the market for a cornerback in the upcoming draft.
In a recent PFF mock draft, one scenario suggests that Buffalo could make an aggressive move up the draft board, trading up in the first round to select a top defensive back prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Bills Trade Up to No. 19 to Select Michigan CB Will Johnson
Back in 2022, the Bills made a similar move when they traded up to draft Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam in the first round. Unfortunately, that decision did not pan out as expected, and Elam was traded to the Dallas Cowboys earlier this offseason. With Douglas still unsigned in free agency, Buffalo’s need for another starting cornerback alongside Benford remains pressing.
PFF’s Dalton Wasserman projects that the Bills will strike a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to move up 11 spots to No. 19 overall, selecting Michigan cornerback Will Johnson.
“The Bills have plenty of defensive depth but lack star power and are extremely thin at cornerback,” Wasserman explained. “With an extra second-round pick available, they should trade up and grab a potential star like Johnson. While recent injury concerns exist, he posted an elite 91.3 PFF coverage grade over his three seasons at Michigan.”
Johnson dealt with injuries in 2024, which caused his draft stock to slip from a potential top-five selection to the latter half of the first round.
How Would Johnson Fit in Buffalo’s Secondary?
According to his PFF scouting report, Johnson is a long, agile cornerback with exceptional footwork and change-of-direction skills. However, concerns about his top-end speed raise questions about his effectiveness in press-man coverage at the NFL level. Instead, his strengths in off-coverage and ball tracking could allow him to thrive in a zone-heavy scheme.
Despite his injury-shortened 2024 season, Johnson made a significant impact, recording two interceptions returned for touchdowns in just six games. His best collegiate season came in 2023 when he posted 27 tackles and four interceptions while helping Michigan win a National Championship.
If drafted by Buffalo, Johnson would likely slot in as an outside corner opposite Benford, with Taron Johnson continuing his role as the slot defender.
The cost to move up in this scenario would be the 62nd overall pick in the draft, which Buffalo might view as a reasonable price, given that they acquired an additional second-rounder from Houston in the Stefon Diggs trade last offseason.