PFF identifies perfect 49ers first-round fit

With the 2025 NFL Draft just a week away, Pro Football Focus (PFF) analyst Mason Cameron took on the task of identifying the perfect first-round fit for each of the league's 32 teams. This wasn't a mock draft. Instead, it was an exercise in matching prospects with team schemes—regardless of draft position—by factoring in team needs and player skill sets to pinpoint potential difference-makers.

For the San Francisco 49ers, the ideal fit happens to be a player who could realistically be available when general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan are on the clock with the 11th overall pick. Cameron identified Michigan cornerback Will Johnson as the 49ers' perfect first-round match.

Coincidentally, Johnson has been one of the most frequently projected players to land with San Francisco in recent mock drafts.

"With Robert Saleh back guiding the 49ers defense, finding personnel to fit his quarters-heavy scheme will be a priority," Cameron wrote. "Johnson, a long, fluid corner with elite quickness and sharp zone instincts, fits that mold perfectly. Before his injury in 2024, he earned an 87.5 PFF coverage grade when defending in quarters looks."

Johnson (6-2, 194) was limited to just six games last season due to injury. Still, he recorded 14 tackles (one for a loss), three passes defensed, and two interceptions—both returned for touchdowns, per Sports Reference. Despite the shortened season, Johnson remains one of the most highly regarded cornerback prospects in this year's draft.

Over his three seasons at Michigan, Johnson held opposing quarterbacks to a 49.8 NFL passer rating, per PFF, including a 52.6 mark in 2024. In 2023, he limited quarterbacks to a career-low rating of 30.9. Notably, he didn't allow a touchdown in either of his final two collegiate seasons.

Johnson could be an ideal long-term solution at outside cornerback for the 49ers, providing a much-needed boost to the secondary following the departure of Charvarius Ward.