R.J. White of CBS Sports took a unique approach in his latest mock draft, which diverges from the typical strategy of predicting what NFL teams will do or suggesting what they should do. Instead, White focused on what the betting market expects teams to do in the first round, using draft prop odds from DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook to shape his projections.
"This mock dials in on the odds in various types of draft props available at two major sportsbooks to build a picture of what would need to happen to satisfy the most likely scenario when each team is on the clock, within reason," White explained.
According to betting odds, a few of the top offensive tackles and defensive linemen are projected to be off the board by the time general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan make their selection at No. 11. That leaves Michigan cornerback Will Johnson as the projected pick for San Francisco in White's mock.
In recent mock drafts, Johnson has become a popular projection to the 49ers, so it's no surprise that oddsmakers see a fit in the Bay Area. However, White notes that cornerback wasn't the betting favorite for the 49ers' first-round selection.
"The 49ers have three positions relatively close in their first pick prop, with DL/edge at +190, O-line at +220 and corner at +270," White wrote. "So why go with the third option? Johnson is the first man out in the top-10 pick markets at both DraftKings and FanDuel, sitting around +150 at both sites to go in the top 10. Some of that is tied to the Raiders as a landing spot, but it also gives us an opportunity to have him just miss by putting him here and aligning with the market."
In White's mock, the Raiders select Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty at No. 6, keeping Johnson available at No. 11. Colorado star Travis Hunter goes to the Cleveland Browns at No. 2, removing the draft's top corner from the board early, and forcing Las Vegas to go in another direction.
It's an interesting exercise by White, and the 49ers undeniably have a need at cornerback heading into the 2025 NFL Draft following Charvarius Ward's departure in free agency. Deommodore Lenoir and Renaldo Green are currently penciled in as the starting cornerbacks, but Johnson could provide the defense with a cost-effective, long-term starter.
According to NFL Mock Draft Database, Johnson is the most frequently projected player to the 49ers, with 11.9% of mock drafts slotting him to the team. The 49ers met with Johnson at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Despite dealing with shoulder and turf toe injuries during the 2024 season, Johnson played in six games, recording 14 tackles (one for a loss), three passes defensed, and two interceptions—both returned for touchdowns, per Sports Reference.
According to Pro Football Focus, opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of just 52.6 when targeting Johnson last season. Notably, he did not allow a touchdown in his final two collegiate seasons.