MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins traded the 30th and 90th overall picks to the San Francisco 49ers to move up to No. 27 and select San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson, making him the second cornerback taken in the draft. Johnson ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash at the combine and elevated himself into first-round consideration, the team said.
Head coach Jeff Hafley, a former defensive backs coach who was hired in January, described a three-level framework he uses to evaluate corners: winning at the line of scrimmage, handling intermediate routes and making plays downfield. Hafley said he looks for players who can cover at two of the three levels or at least one well.
The Dolphins entered the offseason with clear needs at cornerback. Starters Jack Jones and Rasul Douglas left in free agency, as did three-year nickel starter Kader Kohou. Miami had limited salary cap room and signed veterans Darrell Baker Jr., Marco Wilson and Alex Austin, while using draft capital to add Johnson as part of a secondary rebuild.
Miami finished 2025 with nine interceptions, the ninth fewest in the league, and allowed a league-high 72% completion percentage. Johnson intercepted six passes and had 19 pass defenses in his Aztecs career; Hafley and the staff expect him to contribute while learning all three cornerback roles.
Johnson acknowledged the transition from primarily man-to-man work in college to learning zone drops and coverage concepts in the NFL. Hafley praised Johnson’s spring practice work, calling him instinctual, fast to see the game, diligent in meetings, super athletic with strong coverage ability and someone who has been able to get his hand on the football.
