GLENDALE – The NFL draft is less than a week away, with the fans around the Valley still unsure what the Arizona Cardinals will do once they’re on the clock. Mock drafts all across the internet have the franchise going in drastically different directions. Some focus on the front seven and the team’s pass rush or getting an offensive lineman to protect quarterback Kyler Murray.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The option to trade down is still viable for Arizona after a stellar offseason puts them in a position to draft the best available player over any roster needs, which is what ESPN’s Ben Solak did in his latest mock draft. Solak admitted the difficulty of drafting for the Cardinals but went with a national champion cornerback in Michigan Wolverines, Will Johnson.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Michigan defensive back Will Johnson celebrates a touchdown after intercepting USC quarterback Miller Moss during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. Syndication: Palm Beach Post
Solak on why Cardinals should take Johnson:
“The Cardinals are a tough team to draft for. They have 22 starters on the roster right now, which is a rarer thing than you’d expect in the league. The only spot that clearly needs improvement is outside corner, where neither Sean Murphy-Bunting nor Starling Thomas V were great opposite Max Melton . Even then, corner is really not that concerning,” wrote Solak.
“As such, the Cardinals should be oriented toward adding a blue-chip player — someone splashy enough to elevate them from playoff hopeful to actual NFC West contender. I wouldn’t even mind a small trade-up to secure a falling star player. I like Arizona to snag Will Johnson, the Michigan corner who has a wide range of outcomes given his injury-shortened 2024 season.”
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort during an NFL pre-draft news conference at the Cardinals Dignity Health Training Center in Tempe on April 18, 2024. Syndication: Arizona Republic
General manager Monti Ossenfort adding championship-level players to the roster would benefit them next season. Ossenfort added Super Bowl-winning edge Josh Sweat early this offseason to accommodate that need, and drafting a player like Johnson would only further fill that goal.
Johnson is considered the second-best cornerback in the draft despite injuries plaguing him in 2024. During Michigan’s 2023 national championship run, Johnson recorded four interceptions and four pass deflections to lead the Wolverines to the best defense in the nation.
If injuries didn’t cause Johnson to miss half of the 2024 season, he would be a unanimous top pick, which could bode well for Arizona to get a great value pick at 16th overall.
Could the Arizona Cardinals stay close to home in the 2025 draft?
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
