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When the Arizona Cardinals selected cornerback Will Johnson in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft, it appeared that it would take some work for him to find a role on defense as a rookie. Things have changed.
There is a door wide open for him to begin his career as a Week 1 starter.
Before he was drafted, the Cardinals had veteran Sean Murphy-Bunting, who started every game he played last season and had the most experience of the group, stud slot corner Garrett Williams, 2024 second-round pick Max Melton and Star Thomas, who started 15 games last season.
With that group, it looked like a cut or trade of Thomas was imminent. Otherwise, Johnson would have to outplay either Thomas or Melton to be the fourth cornerback in the rotation, playing the role that Melton had last year. Melton played 565 defensive snaps but only started three games.
But Murphy-Bunting saw his 2025 season come to an end even before the offseason program concluded, as he was placed on the non-football injury reserve on Thursday.
Now, Johnson already projects as one of the top four. Considered a first-round talent and perhaps even a top-10 pick, he fell to the second round because of long-term concerns with his knee, which is currently healthy.
Now, without having to make any other moves, Johnson could potentially be their No. 1 boundary cornerback with Williams in the slot and a rotation of Thomas and Melton again. At worst, he will be part of a three-man rotation on the boundary with Thomas and Melton, just as the Cardinals had last season with Murphy-Bunting, Thomas and Melton.
The battle at cornerback in the offseason and training camp in a couple of months suddenly becomes much more interesting.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals 2nd-rd pick Will Johnson could be CB1 as rookie
Continue reading...
There is a door wide open for him to begin his career as a Week 1 starter.
Before he was drafted, the Cardinals had veteran Sean Murphy-Bunting, who started every game he played last season and had the most experience of the group, stud slot corner Garrett Williams, 2024 second-round pick Max Melton and Star Thomas, who started 15 games last season.
With that group, it looked like a cut or trade of Thomas was imminent. Otherwise, Johnson would have to outplay either Thomas or Melton to be the fourth cornerback in the rotation, playing the role that Melton had last year. Melton played 565 defensive snaps but only started three games.
But Murphy-Bunting saw his 2025 season come to an end even before the offseason program concluded, as he was placed on the non-football injury reserve on Thursday.
Now, Johnson already projects as one of the top four. Considered a first-round talent and perhaps even a top-10 pick, he fell to the second round because of long-term concerns with his knee, which is currently healthy.
Now, without having to make any other moves, Johnson could potentially be their No. 1 boundary cornerback with Williams in the slot and a rotation of Thomas and Melton again. At worst, he will be part of a three-man rotation on the boundary with Thomas and Melton, just as the Cardinals had last season with Murphy-Bunting, Thomas and Melton.
The battle at cornerback in the offseason and training camp in a couple of months suddenly becomes much more interesting.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals 2nd-rd pick Will Johnson could be CB1 as rookie
Continue reading...
