Seahawks Reportedly Didn't Meet With Rising CB Prospect Chris Johnson

NFL analyst Tony Pauline says the Seahawks never hosted the San Diego State cornerback for a pre-draft visit, contrary to previous reports.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 10:36am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a football player in mid-stride, with sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in navy blue, lime green, and bright white, conveying a sense of movement and uncertainty around the player's draft prospects.The Seahawks' pre-draft plans for cornerback Chris Johnson take an unexpected turn, leaving the team's draft strategy in flux.San Diego Today

NFL analyst Tony Pauline reported that the Seattle Seahawks did not meet with San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson for a pre-draft visit as previously scheduled. This comes as a surprise, as Johnson's draft stock has been rising quickly and the Seahawks were expected to host him. The team may have decided to focus their efforts elsewhere if they don't believe Johnson will still be available when they pick at No. 32 overall in the first round.

Why it matters

The Seahawks are in need of cornerback help in the upcoming draft, and Johnson was viewed as a potential target for them late in the first round. If they have indeed decided not to host him for a visit, it could signal that they don't believe he'll still be on the board when they pick or that they have shifted their focus to other prospects at the position.

The details

According to Pauline, Johnson is scheduled to visit the Las Vegas Raiders next week, but he never made the trip to see the Seahawks as previously reported. Seahawks podcast host Dan Viens described this development as a 'curveball' and speculated that it could mean the team doesn't think Johnson will still be available at No. 32. Johnson has seen his draft stock rise considerably, with NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah ranking him as the 40th overall prospect on his latest big board.

  • The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft will be held on Thursday, April 23.
  • NFL teams must conclude their 30 pre-draft visits by Wednesday, April 15.

The players

Chris Johnson

A cornerback prospect from San Diego State University who has seen his draft stock rise rapidly in recent months.

Tony Pauline

An NFL analyst who reported that the Seahawks did not host Johnson for a pre-draft visit as previously expected.

Dan Viens

The host of the Seahawks Forever podcast, who described the news of Johnson not visiting the Seahawks as a 'curveball'.

Daniel Jeremiah

An NFL Network analyst who has Johnson ranked as the 40th overall prospect on his latest big board.

Corbin K. Smith

A reporter who covers the Seahawks and speculated that the team may have canceled a previously scheduled visit with Johnson.

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What they’re saying

“Curveball here from Tony, that Chris Johnson apparently never made a visit to Seattle as previously reported. Doesn't mean he won't still, but it could be an indication the Seahawks don't think he'll be there at 32.”

— Dan Viens, Seahawks Forever Podcast Host

“I wonder if Seahawks had a visit scheduled and then canceled. Reaching out to a few channels to see if I can find answer. But this may be case where Seattle doesn't think he will be there at 32.”

— Corbin K. Smith, Seahawks Reporter

What’s next

The Seahawks have until Wednesday, April 15 to host any remaining pre-draft visits, so there is still a possibility they could schedule a meeting with Johnson before the draft. However, the team's reported decision not to host him so far suggests they may have shifted their focus to other cornerback prospects they believe will be available when they pick at No. 32.

The takeaway

This development highlights the fluid and unpredictable nature of the pre-draft process, as teams' plans can change quickly based on a prospect's rising stock or other factors. It remains to be seen whether the Seahawks will still host Johnson for a visit, but their apparent decision not to do so suggests they may have other cornerback targets in mind for the late first round.