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3 hours ago
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The Arizona Cardinals selected Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen in the first round of the NFL Draft, fulfilling their goal of landing a defensive lineman capable of making an immediate impact. However, their best pick may have come in the second round, where they landed what could be the steal of the draft: cornerback Will Johnson.
Johnson is coming off an outstanding career at Michigan, where he helped lead the Wolverines to a national championship just two seasons ago. Despite his talent, he slid to the second round due to lingering health concerns. Now, the former Michigan standout is sending a message to the 31 teams that passed on him.
“They gon have to pay for this sh*t, I promise you. Arizona finna get a dawg,” Johnson said.
Johnson’s confidence mirrors his on-field demeanor—tough, intense, and disruptive. He brings a physical, aggressive mentality to the Cardinals’ secondary.
“Johnson plays the corner position with an edge and a mentality that you need from your top cover man. His ability to mirror and match his opponent is his most attractive feature that should help him make a quicker adjustment to the next level,” Richie Bradshaw wrote.
While some teams were scared off by a knee issue flagged during combine testing, the Cardinals were not. Arizona viewed Johnson as a calculated risk worth taking.
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“The knee was flagged at combine testing, the results of which teams typically get in mid-to-late April. In the hours before Day 2, some teams considering Johnson still had questions. Arizona was fine with the issues, and as a result, Johnson had the team circled as a strong possibility entering the start of the second round,” Jess Root wrote.
The Cardinals believe they’ve found their future star in the secondary. While the knee may be something to monitor long term, Arizona isn’t concerned right now. Instead, the focus is on developing a player they feel could become a cornerstone of their defense.
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