Why the Chargers drafted Michigan WR Cornelius Johnson

The Chargers capped off their draft class with a third wide receiver in Cornelius Johnson.

With the 253rd pick in the 2-24 NFL Draft, the Chargers selected wide receiver Cornelius Johnson.

The Chargers entered this year’s draft with only four wide receivers signed to the roster. Now, they’ve almost doubled that amount by selecting their third wideout (second of the seventh round) while also nabbing Jim Harbaugh a second former Michigan player.

Johnson is a sizable 6’2, 213-pound with 4.44 speed. He played in a lot of games for Jim Harbaugh as a three-year starter for the Wolverines. He was a big and strong target for J.J. McCarthy who won by climbing the ladder and snagging passes with his excellent leaping ability. He is not the most-polished route-runner but he wins by knowing how to utilize his large frame on smaller defensive backs. Johnson is also viewed as a notable blocker in the run game which is likely the biggest reason he was targeted by the Chargers this late aside from his Michigan ties. Johnson finished his career with 138 receptions for 2,038 yards and 14 touchdowns.

The biggest red flag for Johnson will be whether or not he can hone his craft and become a professional route-runner. As it stands, it sounds like he’ll have a very specific offensive role early on for the Chargers.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had Johnson with a round grade between the fifth and sixth rounds so at least by his scouting, this was another steal by the Chargers.