Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.

To say the San Francisco 49ers have experienced change this offseason would be a massive understatement.

Multiple starters left the team either via trade or free agency, creating multiple glaring holes for the team to consider targeting when the NFL Draft arrives. In a new A to Z Sports mock draft, the team finds a solid replacement for All-Pro corner Charvarius Ward, who signed with the Indianapolis Colts this offseason.


49ers select Michigan star CB Will Johnson in a new mock draft to replace Charvarius Ward

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Michigan defensive back Will Johnson celebrates a touchdown after intercepting USC quarterback Miller Moss during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

“The 49ers have suffered multiple losses to their roster this offseason. One of which was seeing star corner Charvarius Ward leave in free agency to join the Indianapolis Colts. Rumors believe Will Johnson could fall farther than expected, so the 49ers take this chance to replace Ward with one of the best CBs in college football over the past few years.”

– New A to Z Sports Mock Draft

The NFL has been anxiously waiting for Will Johnson to make the jump from college. However, now that he’s here, he has been the victim of insane prospect fatigue. 2024 is a year Johnson and Michigan as a whole would love to forget. Johnson missed most of the year due to an injury, so he couldn’t have the same success on the field that we had seen in years past.

He was a major part of the team’s national championship in 2023. He was one of the most feared CBs in college football, and even though he only appeared in six games in 2024, he still finished with two interceptions. He returned both for touchdowns, which was the most in the FBS for the year. He would be a day-one starter for the 49ers and would undoubtedly make losing Ward hurt significantly less.