The Arizona Cardinals took a step to shore up their secondary by selecting Will Johnson, a cornerback out of Michigan, with the 47th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Johnson, who was expected to go in the first round, expressed his disappointment but remained resolute, telling the Arizona Cardinals, "It is one of those nightmares you never want to have happen. But it'll make a better situation out of everything, so I'm not too worried about it now. I'm ready to go prove it."
The Cardinals, who bettered their record to 8-9 last season after a couple of disappointing years, are aiming to compete at a higher level. Coach Jonathan Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort, both in their third year, are feeling the heat to make the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Despite the frustrations of falling to the second round, Johnson looks to quickly make an impact, saying in an interview with the Arizona Cardinals, "I'm on a mission now. It definitely woke me up for sure." The Cardinals have been diligently rebuilding, as evidenced by the selection of Mississippi defensive lineman Walter Nolen the previous night, as reported by ABC15.
Cardinals fans got a nostalgic nod during the announcement, as franchise legend Patrick Peterson took the podium in Green Bay to reveal the team's draft choice. Hearing his name called by Peterson resonated with Johnson, who grew up watching the former Cardinal's highlights, aiming to emulate his success. In a sign of embracing the new dynamic, recent first-round pick Walter Nolen reached out to Johnson, eager to connect with his new teammate, according to Coach Gannon's anecdote in an interview with the Arizona Cardinals.
Johnson, who trained in Arizona before the draft and discussed the possibility of joining the same NFL team with fellow Cardinals draftee Marvin Harrison Jr., now has to quickly adapt to his professional environment. Despite offers to trade the No. 47 pick, Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort opted to draft Johnson directly rather than acquire extra picks. Similarly, the team decided to straightforwardly select Oregon linebacker Jordan Burch with their third-round choice, again passing on trade offers.
