play
See why Michigan’s Will Johnson is a top NFL draft prospect (1:44)
Check out highlights from Michigan CB Will Johnson after he’s selected by the Cardinals in the 2025 NFL draft. (1:44)
Michigan cornerback Will Johnson‘s slide in the NFL draft stopped Friday when the Arizona Cardinals selected him in the second round.
And it left him frustrated and mad.
Arizona took Johnson, a projected first-round pick, with the 47th overall selection, halting his fall while simultaneously motivating him.
“I’m on a mission, now,” Johnson said during a conference call Friday night. “They definitely woke me up, for sure.”
Reports surfaced during Thursday’s first round that Johnson had a knee issue that concerned teams. After getting picked Friday, Johnson said he’s “healthy” and hasn’t dealt with a knee issue in a while.
“They were saying things about my knee and all that, and I haven’t really dealt with it in two years, so that’s definitely frustrating,” he said. “But, it’s all good. I’m at where I’m supposed to be, and I’m just happy to be a Cardinal now.”
A source called Johnson falling to the Cardinals a “gift” and said his injury issues were minor concerns. Johnson finished as the No. 10 prospect on ESPN’s consensus predraft board.
“I know how my body feels, so I’m just going to go out there and show that on Sundays and show everybody what they missed out on,” he said.
Johnson, who was in the green room in Green Bay, Wisconsin, during Thursday’s first round, said he did not expect to drop as far as he did. He called the experience Thursday night “one of those nightmares you never want to happen.”
The former Wolverine golfed with current Cardinals receiver and former Ohio State star Marvin Harrison Jr. while Johnson was training in Arizona over the past few months, and the two discussed Johnson joining Harrison on the Cardinals. But Johnson said it’s “fair to say” he thought it was more likely to happen with the Cardinals’ first-round pick at No. 16 than with their second-round pick at No. 47.
Johnson played in six games in 2024 because of a turf toe injury.
He didn’t participate in drills at the NFL scouting combine, and a hamstring injury prevented him from participating in Michigan’s pro day. Johnson held a private workout for teams 11 days ago, but he did not run the 40-yard dash.
He had a video conference call with the Cardinals and visited the team’s headquarters during the predraft process. Johnson said “it went great” and he liked the coaching staff’s “great energy,” which led Johnson to believe he’ll fit in well with Arizona’s culture.
Former Michigan teammate Kenneth Grant, who went 13th overall to the Miami Dolphins, called Johnson the “ultimate competitor.”
“Whatever he’s doing, whether it’s on or off the field, he’s always [competing],” Grant said. “I’ll even go over to his house sometimes and he’s on his iPad watching film. So, when he steps on the field, he’s always going to be ready schematic-wise.
“He’s a dog, bro — injury or not, he’s a dog. He’s going to power through it and hit you, for real.”
Johnson, who described himself as a “shutdown corner,” could immediately compete for one of the Cardinals’ starting jobs.
“I think I’m going to make a better situation out of everything,” Johnson said. “So, I’m not too worried about it now. I’m just ready to go prove it.”
NFL Nation reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques contributed to this report.
