Miami Dolphins rookie cornerback Chris Johnson shares his biggest difference from college and the pros so far
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Miami Dolphins rookie cornerback Chris Johnson shares his biggest difference from college and the pros so far
Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Diego State defensive back Chris Johnson (DB17) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images
Kyle Crabbs·AtoZ Sports
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2 min read
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Miami Dolphinsrookie cornerback Chris Johnson is going to be a major piece of the puzzle in the secondary. How is he acclimating through the offseason program?
When listing out the most essential pieces of the puzzle for theMiami Dolphinsin 2026, it's hard to get too far down the list before arriving at rookie cornerback Chris Johnson.
Johnson was Miami's second pick of the 2026 NFL Draft and a top-30 selection. And he is set to seize a prominent role in Jeff Hafley's secondary. It sounds like he's on track to hold down multiple roles. That includes potentially a perimeter cornerback in base defense before kicking into the slot when the Dolphins want to play nickel defense. There's plenty of ball game left for these details to sort out. But Hafley has generally been up front that the team views Johnson as a multiple piece. So how is he handling the pressures of such a role so far as a rookie? What's the hardest part? Johnson joined NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe and Patrick Claybon to talk about the transition thus far.
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Miami Dolphins rookie cornerback Chris Johnson shares his biggest difference from college and the pros so far
"The amount of details in every call. Obviously, I played in a very good system in college. But coming up to the NFL, just the amount of details that I have to understand from the front, to the linebackers to the whole back end, just being able to understand that is definitely a big jump for me. But, you know, I always enjoy learning and just being able to to learn this new game, transitioning into the NFL."
- Miami Dolphins rookie cornerback Chris Johnson
Perhaps the best part of Miami's needs in the secondary? It creates a very clear expectation for Johnson. If he's going to seize the moment, his ability to do so is predicated on knowing exactly how the defense fits together on every play. So for Chris Johnson, his time off this summer should be pretty straight forward. Stay in shape and keep the eyes in the playbook. If Johnson is able to do that, he stands a great chance to be the player Miami drafted him to be sooner rather than later.
