The Arizona Cardinals may have landed the steal of the draft at No. 47 overall. After taking defensive tackle Walter Nolen in the first round, the team stayed focused on defense, skipping offense entirely. And their second-round pick, if healthy, could end up being the biggest gem of the bunch.
Will Johnson Is One To Watch for the Arizona Cardinals
After three strong seasons at Michigan, Will Johnson looked ready for the NFL spotlight. Teams like the Green Bay Packers were reportedly eyeing him with the No. 23 pick, but Johnson slid to No. 47 in the second round, largely due to concerns about a lingering knee issue.
The Cardinals waited it out—and when Johnson was still available, they pounced. Now, the rookie corner is already listed near the top of their depth chart and is on track to suit up for Week 1. After finishing 8-9 last season, Arizona used its draft to rebuild a struggling defense.
Five of their nine losses came in games where the defense gave up 30 or more points. In two others, they allowed 20-plus. The final two losses came despite giving up just 16 and 13 points. So, while the offense still needs work, it’s clear the defense needed an overhaul to stay competitive in the NFC West.
Will Johnson working at Arizona Cardinals OTAs pic.twitter.com/DYUz1ccZES
— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) June 3, 2025
Johnson joins a secondary that finished with the league’s worst pass success rate last season—50.2%, according to PFSN’s Defense+ metric. He was listed as the top cornerback on PFSN’s Big Board, and the Cardinals are betting his knee will hold up by the time the season kicks off.
While his 2024 numbers were down due to injury, Arizona didn’t flinch. Even with limited action, Johnson managed to score two defensive touchdowns—both interceptions returned for pick-sixes. He also finished with 14 tackles, compared to 27 in each of his first two seasons. At 6-foot-2, with great range and speed, he has the tools to make an immediate impact.
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Later in the draft, the Cardinals added more help in the secondary, selecting Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke in the fifth round. He’ll start out lower on the depth chart than Johnson—but with a Michigan vs. Ohio State rivalry already baked in, expect both Big Ten corners to push each other as camp rolls on.