Dolphins rookie CB Chris Johnson welcomes pressure and expectations

The Miami Dolphins held their 2026 rookie minicamp on Friday and Saturday, where one of their first-round picks, cornerback Chris Johnson, displayed understanding of his new job, responsibilities and expectations when meeting with South Florida media following workouts.

The 2025 Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year had an outstanding senior season and had been praised across all league circles since the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine.

His stock rose steadily during the evaluation process, and Miami thought highly of him enough to deal a third-round pick to move up three spots to draft him. The 27th overall pick, Johnson now enters a cornerback room that immediately has him at the top of the depth chart.

Johnson was able to address the instant starting likelihood with reporters saying, he is “focusing on the process rather than the result, that’s something we talked about, you know, back at San Diego State and something that we mentioned here as well, you know, just understanding the process is the important part, so I can't skip ahead to, you know, Week 1.”

He added, “I'm brand new here, I'm a rookie. I gotta earn everybody's respect the same way as if I was undrafted or drafted in the seventh-round, you know, it’s all the same, we’re all here to work.”

He went on to tell media members, “I want, you know, the Dolphins to remember me, you know, as a great player, someone that came in, did whatever they had to do to get on the field and help the franchise."

His lock-down style, scheme versatility and ability to play in the slot if needed, in addition to his home on the boundary, could make Johnson one of the league’s busiest and impactful rookies in 2026.

Johnson could be next in line when it comes to great drafted cornerbacks in franchise history, such as Sam Madison, Patrick Surtain and Xavien Howard, who were all stars with the Dolphins. Those three were each second-round picks, while Johnson is just the third cornerback that they've taken in the first round since Troy Vincent back in 1992, and he could be the best first-round cornerback Miami has ever selected. Vincent only spent four seasons in South Florida before becoming a perennial Pro Bowler with the , while 2020's was a swing and a miss for Miami.