The Arizona Cardinals didn’t just draft a cornerback in the second round—they lit a fire under a young man with something to prove. While their first-round pick, Walter Nolen, satisfied the need for a disruptive force up front, it’s their next move that could shake up the league. When Arizona scooped up Michigan’s Will Johnson with pick No. 35, it wasn’t just a calculated risk. It was a potential franchise-altering moment.
Will Johnson's slide turned personal and NFL might pay for it
Will Johnson wasn’t supposed to be sitting there on Day 2. Not after the career he had at Michigan. Not after locking down top receivers and helping lead the Wolverines to a national championship. He was smart, physical, and polished by most accounts, a first-round lock.
But a flagged knee at the NFL Combine changed everything.
Suddenly, teams got cold feet. Some erased him from their draft boards entirely. Others just didn’t want to be the ones to take the gamble. Arizona had their eyes on him. They weren’t worried, they were prepared and so was Johnson.
“They gon have to pay for this sh*t, I promise you. Arizona finna get a dawg,” he told reporters shortly after being picked.
That’s not just post-draft emotion talking. That’s a message one aimed squarely at every single team that passed on him. He knows where he went. He knows who overlooked him. And now, he’s got all the motivation in the world to turn that slide into a legacy.
Will Johnson brings the attitude and edge Arizona needs
What the Cardinals are getting is more than a corner with good tape. Johnson plays angry in the best way possible. He’s aggressive at the line, doesn’t shy away from physical matchups, and has the instincts of a veteran. Arizona’s secondary needed an attitude. Johnson brings that in spades.
Also Read: Kayla Nicole slams critics still calling her ‘Travis Kelce’s Ex’ — When will we stop defining women by the men they dated?
The knee will be something to monitor. But in the eyes of the Cardinals' front office, the upside outweighed the risk and then some. They didn’t see damaged goods. They saw a first-round talent with an edge. And if Johnson stays healthy, they may have just pulled off the biggest steal of the draft.
Will Johnson's slide turned personal and NFL might pay for it
Will Johnson wasn’t supposed to be sitting there on Day 2. Not after the career he had at Michigan. Not after locking down top receivers and helping lead the Wolverines to a national championship. He was smart, physical, and polished by most accounts, a first-round lock.
But a flagged knee at the NFL Combine changed everything.
Suddenly, teams got cold feet. Some erased him from their draft boards entirely. Others just didn’t want to be the ones to take the gamble. Arizona had their eyes on him. They weren’t worried, they were prepared and so was Johnson.
“They gon have to pay for this sh*t, I promise you. Arizona finna get a dawg,” he told reporters shortly after being picked.
That’s not just post-draft emotion talking. That’s a message one aimed squarely at every single team that passed on him. He knows where he went. He knows who overlooked him. And now, he’s got all the motivation in the world to turn that slide into a legacy.
Will Johnson brings the attitude and edge Arizona needs
What the Cardinals are getting is more than a corner with good tape. Johnson plays angry in the best way possible. He’s aggressive at the line, doesn’t shy away from physical matchups, and has the instincts of a veteran. Arizona’s secondary needed an attitude. Johnson brings that in spades.
Also Read: Kayla Nicole slams critics still calling her ‘Travis Kelce’s Ex’ — When will we stop defining women by the men they dated?
The knee will be something to monitor. But in the eyes of the Cardinals' front office, the upside outweighed the risk and then some. They didn’t see damaged goods. They saw a first-round talent with an edge. And if Johnson stays healthy, they may have just pulled off the biggest steal of the draft.
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