PITTSBURGH -- Cornerback Chris Johnson became the first San Diego State defensive player selected in the first round of the NFL Draft since 1972 when he was picked by the Miami Dolphins on Thursday. Johnson was chosen with the 27th pick.
Johnson, an Eastvale, California, native, is the first Aztec on defense to be selected in the first round since SDSU hall of famer Willie Buchanon went to the Green Bay Packers with the seventh pick of the 1972 NFL Draft. Also a defensive back, Buchanon went onto be named the 1972 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1993.
Johnson is the 10th player in program history to be drafted in the first round and the first since running back Rashaad Penny went to the Seattle Seahawks with the 27th overall pick in 2018. San Diego State’s 10 all-time first-round selections are the most among schools yet to play in a Power 5 Conference (the Aztecs join the Pac-12 on July 1).
Johnson is just the third SDSU defensive player overall to be drafted in the first round. He’s also the first SDSU cornerback drafted since Darren Hall went in the fourth round to the Atlanta Falcons in 2021.
Johnson completed one of the best seasons defensively in program history in 2025, registering 49 tackles (36 solo), four interceptions for 146 yards and two touchdowns, nine pass breakups, three tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries. A semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award of the best defensive back in the country, Johnson was named to six All-American teams, including first-team nods by Pro Football Focus, Bleacher Report and Sports Info Solutions, and second-team selections by Associated Press, The Sporting News and Pro Football & Sports Network. He was also the Mountain West Co-Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the fourth Aztec to win the award, joining linebacker Kirk Morrison (2003-04), cornerback Damontae Kaze (2015-16) and defensive linemen Cameron Thomas (2021).
Johnson led a SDSU defense that had an FBS-leading three shutouts (42-0 vs. Stony Brook, 34-0 vs. California (first time Cal was shut out since 2019 and first time vs. unranked team since 1994) and 23-0 at Fresno State (first time FS was shut out at home since 1980)). He tied for the top-graded cornerback in the country with a 92.0 defensive grade per Pro Football Focus and had the second-highest pass coverage grade (92.4), both with a minimum of just 10 defensive snaps. According to PFF, when targeted against Johnson, quarterbacks were 18-for-45 (44.2 pct.) for 185 yards, four interceptions and no touchdowns, for a defensive pass efficiency rating of 56.76.
Johnson finished his San Diego State career with 152 tackles (105 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, five forced fumbles, six interceptions and 14 pass breakups, starting all 23 of his final appearances and playing in 47 career games.
The Aztecs are coming off a 9-4 season in 2025, where they finished in four-way tie atop of the Mountain West regular-season standings with a 6-2 conference record, advancing to is first bowl game since 2022. SDSU kicks off their first year in the Pac-12 on Sept. 5 against Portland State at Snapdragon Stadium.
Season tickets can be purchased for as low as $175 ($150 plus $25 Aztec Club Membership), only $29.17 per game. Purchase your season tickets here.