The Cardinals stop the slide of cornerback Will Johnson by selecting him with the 47th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
With the 47th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals are selecting Michigan cornerback Will Johnson.
After originally being a popular mock draft pairing with the Cardinals in the first round, Arizona was able to take advantage of his slide into the second round in order to get one of the best defenders in the entire draft class. However, the slide was not for nothing. Johnson missed most of the 2024 season with a lower-body injury and it looks like most teams have been cautious about selecting him early on.
With the No. 47 overall pick in the 2025 @NFLDraft, the @AZCardinals select Will Johnson.
: #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/MXK88gWs1H— NFL (@NFL) April 26, 2025
Stats & Accolades
- 2022: Played in 14 games with five starts (27 tackles, two tackles for loss, three pass breakups, three interceptions). Freshman All-American.
- 2023: Played in 12 games with 11 starts (27 tackles, tackle for loss, four pass breakups, four interceptions). First-Team All-Big Ten. Defensive MVP in National Championship victory over Washington.
- 2024: Started six games (14 tackles, tackle for loss, three pass breakups, two interceptions returned for touchdowns). Third-Team Associated Press All-American. Honorable Mention All-Big Ten.
What the Cardinals are getting:
Johnson is an instinctual and productive cornerback with great size and movement skills. He wins by being the most prepared defender on the field which allows him to play with an immense amount of confidence at all times. He set a school record with three interceptions returned for touchdowns while recording nine total in his three-year career. The biggest red flag Johnson will come with is a concerning injury history that cost him half of his 2024 season and three games in 2023. He’s a bonafide playmaker when healthy and will immediately take a team’s secondary to the next level with his addition.
Strengths
- Easy and fluid mover through his transitions
- Click-and-closes with force to try and jar ball loose
- Elite instincts dissect and diagnose offensive gameplan
- Plays through the ball like a receiver
- Excels in press with physicality and stickiness
- Flips a switch into a ball-carrier once he takes it away
Weaknesses
- Missed time during both the 2023 and 2024 seasons with injuries, including a season-ender in October of ‘24
- Does not possess notable long speed
- Confidence in opposing route combinations can cause him to overcommit on multi-cut routes
- Does not show confidence to make a play once playing from behind receiver
Athletic Testing/Measurements
- Height: 6’2
- Weight: 196 pounds
- 40-yard dash: N/A
- 10-yard split: N/A
- Vertical jump: N/A
- Broad jump: N/A
- 3-cone drill: N/A
- Short shuttle: N/A
- Bench Press: N/A