The Arizona Cardinals entered the 2025 NFL Draft in search of reinforcements on defense. In selecting Walter Nolen with the No. 16 overall pick in the draft, the Cardinals strengthened their front seven, but it was the second-round selection that may have landed the team a star in the secondary.
On Day 2, the Cardinals selected Michigan’s Will Johnson with the No. 47 overall pick in the draft which was a surprise. The surprise wasn’t the player, it was the fact that he was still on the board that late in the draft.
A projected top 10 prospect entering the draft, Johnson’s slide was mainly due to knee issue concerns. As those issues have not been a concern the past two seasons for Johnson, the Cardinals got themselves a steal in the second round by snagging a player who has displayed lockdown corner ability when he is on the field.
As long as he's healthy and stays healthy, there is no reason not to believe that talented cornerback who set a school record with three career pick-six returns will transcend his talents to the NFL level, especially on a team that looks to be on the rise.
Arizona Cardinals got their lockdown corner
What should hype up Cardinals fans about Johnson is the fire he now has after sliding into the second round. To add more fire to the talents of one of the top cornerbacks in college football in 2024, the draft slide has Johnson motivated.
“Finna go kill, bruh. They going to have to pay for this s—t,” Johnson said in a video after the draft. “I promise you. Arizona finna get a dawg.”
Johnson was a dawg all season long on a Michigan defense that brought the heat. After seeing fellow teammates Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant go early in the first round, Johnson has the fuel to prove he was the best prospect from that team. That burning fire to go along with this talent should fuel a Cardinals’ defense looking to make a statement in the NFC West in 2025.
Despite missing seven games in his final season with the Wolverines, Johnson had two impressive interceptions with 3 passes defensed. Again, when healthy, the Cardinals are getting a player with lockdown ability who has gone up against top receivers like new teammate Marvin Harrison Jr. while he was at Ohio State.
That battle in practice should help both players perform at a high level come game day.