‘Real-life dreams coming true': Aztecs cornerback Chris Johnson picked in first round of NFL draft
San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson was one of the biggest risers in the weeks and months leading up to the 2026 NFL draft. His ascent was fueled by an outstanding performance during the 2025 season, sharing Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors, standing out at the NFL Combine and nailing in-person interviews.
"Everything starts with the tape," SDSU coach Sean Lewis said this week. "That tape's the resume. And what has truly set Chris apart is the character of the person he is and how he's been raised. So the tape speaks for itself. He goes and crushes the Combine, and then you're doing all the interviews, the site visits and everyone has a chance to interact with him and recognize the person that he is. Everyone's fallen in love, right?"
You could say that. Johnson was not among the nation’s top 10 cornerback prospects before the season began, pegged perhaps to be picked midway through Day 2 of the draft. After the Combine, there was talk about going high in the second round or sneaking into the bottom of the first.
On Thursday night, Johnson was a Day 1 selection when the Miami Dolphins took him with the draft’s 27th pick. Johnson is SDSU’s first first-round pick since running back Rashaad Penny was also selected 27th by Seattle in the 2018 draft. Johnson is the second SDSU defensive back selected in the first round, joining Willie Buchanon (Green Bay, 1972).
LSU’s Mansoor Delane (Chiefs, sixth pick) was the only cornerback taken ahead of Johnson, who is slotted to receive a four-year contract worth $18.30 million as the 27th pick.
Johnson watched the draft at home in Eastvale, about 90 minutes north of San Diego, surrounded by family and friends.
“I’m feeling crazy right now,” Johnson texted late Thursday night. “Words can’t even explain it. It means everything to me to be selected in the first round because I dreamed of this. It’s real-life dreams coming true.”
Miami made a trade with San Francisco to move from 30th to 27th in order to get Johnson, who was somewhat surprised the Dolphins were the team to get him.
“I had no idea, really,” he said. “I will definitely get on the field quickly, wherever or however I can.”
Miami general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan told reporters that Johnson’s “versatility and the upside” were two reasons for moving up to get him.
"He's really gifted,” Sullivan said. “He's 21. We feel like he can play nickel, he can play (outside) corner and, depending on how this thing goes, he could go back there and play safety."
Miami is remaking its secondary, which gives Johnson an immediate opportunity to compete for a starting spot. The Dolphins are eager to change the culture in the defensive backfield, play tougher, and they liked the edge that Johnson showed on film.
"He's about the right stuff,” Sullivan said. “He's the kind of guy that we want to infuse into this locker room."
Johnson is the first SDSU player drafted since 2022. The three-year drought was the longest in six decades, since the Aztecs went from 1956-62 without a player being picked.
Johnson is the 10th first-round draft pick in program history, giving the Aztecs more first-rounders than any other Group of Six program.
San Diego State first-round NFL Draft picks
1967 - Don Horn, QB, Packers
1968 - Haven Moses, WR, Bills
1969 - Fred Dryer, DE, Giants
1972 - Willie Buchanon, DB, Packers
1973 - Isaac Curtis, WR, Bengals
1991 - Dan McGwire, QB, Seahawks
1994 - Marshall Faulk, RB, Colts
1998 - Kyle Turley, OT, Saints
2018 - Rashaad Penny, RB, Seahawks
2026 - Chris Johnson, CB, Dolphins
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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 8:18 PM.