Raiders draft
Getty
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Chris Johnson #1 of the San Diego State Aztecs reacts as he returns an interception for a touchdown during the second half of a game against the California Golden Bears at Snapdragon Stadium on September 20, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Raiders are set to meet with San Diego State cornerback prospect Chris Johnson next week before the 2026 NFL Draft, according to Tony Pauline of EssentiallySports.
Johnson, 6’2″ and 193-lbs, is highly regarded as one of this year’s top CB prospects and has excelled in meetings with other NFL franchises, and is beloved in NFL scouting circles.
“Will add wouldn’t be surprised to see Chris Johnson as the third corner off the board behind McCoy and Delane,” ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid pointed out. “He has a lot of fans in NFL circles.”
“The Chris Johnson tape is really good,” Marcus Mosher, host of LockedOnCowboys and Senior NFL contributor, added to Reid’s post on X. “Not surprised by this at all.”
Raiders to Meet With CB Chris Johnson Ahead of Draft
Chris Johnson
GettyChris Johnson of the San Diego State Aztecs speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Draft Combine.
Las Vegas, sitting at pick 36, would likely have to make a small trade-up to draft Johnson.
Dane Brugler has Johnson as his third-ranked CB in his yearly issue of The Beast, with a short summary that states, “Hyperaware with instinctive eyes; should compete for a starting role on day one.”
Johnson scored an impressive 9.84 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) and is still just 21 years old. Here’s more on Johnson from Brugler:
“A two-year starter at San Diego State, Johnson was the left outside cornerback in Demetrius Sumler’s balanced scheme (zone and man, press and off). He put himself on the NFL radar with a productive junior season and took his game to another level as a senior, earning All-America and Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors. When he was targeted in 2025, opponents completed just 41.9 percent of throws — Johnson had 13 passes defended and four interceptions and allowed zero touchdowns.
Johnson is a sticky cover man, in both man and zone. He plays with clean pedal mechanics to mirror and match in press man and flashes a burst to regain phase down the field. He is hyperaware in zone to drive on throws and consistently play through catch windows. He can get big-boyed at times by receivers and in the run game, but he doesn’t go down without a fight.”
RAS.football
Chris Johnson is a CB prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 9.84 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 51 out of 3069 CB from 1987 to 2026. t.co/u1NM1dInPy
Is Johnson Worth a Potential Trade Up from Pick 36?
It would be great if Johnson falls to the Raiders at pick 36, but with his improved stock with NFL teams and attributes that make him a budding star in the NFL, it’s hard to see that happen.
The Raiders are still in the process of retooling the roster. It’s really up to the front office to make that decision. Johnson is a great player, no doubt, but the Raiders also re-signed CB Eric Stokes to a three-year, $30 million deal, along with trading for nickelback Taron Johnson.
There’s no such thing as having too many defensive backs on the roster, but the Raiders could fill a bigger need at pick 36.
ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller also believes the Raiders could look to add a wide receiver or right tackle in the second round.
“Pick No. 1 won’t be a surprise, but where the Raiders go at No. 36 is a question a lot of NFL decision-makers are pondering. Based on the intel I’ve gathered, it’ll be a pick to support Mendoza. That might be a wide receiver or a right tackle, depending on who’s available. Like Ryan mentioned, Boston is a receiver who has been connected to the team.”
Regardless, this is just a way for the Raiders to keep all options available, just in case there is a situation where drafting Johnson would be the best move the team can make.