CBS Sports includes Josh Sweat and Will Johnson in their list of the 100 most important players in the NFL in 2025.
The Arizona Cardinals have a number of players they will be counting on in 2025. They added a number of players defensively, both veterans and rookies.
According to CBS Sports, two new defensive additions, one veteran and one rookie, are among the 100 most important players in the NFL in 2025.
Pass rusher Josh Sweat and cornerback Will Johnson come in at Nos. 40 and 41.
After having one of the poorest pass rushes in the NFL, the Cardinals signed Josh Sweat in free agency as part of a defensive overhaul, reuniting him with Jonathan Gannon. They also drafted Walter Nolen 16th overall, and the good parts of his film are as good as anyone’s. But the rookie who might have a bigger immediate impact is Will Johnson. Viewed as a blue-chip talent (CB1 in the CBS Sports prospect rankings), Johnson fell to the second round due to medical concerns, but he is a major upgrade if healthy.
Sweat will be expected to lead the outside rush for the Cardinals. His two best seasons in the NFL were when Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon was the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Johnson will now have the opportunity to make an immediate impact as veteran cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting’s season ended with a knee injury and landed him on the non-football injury reserve. Johnson could be the Cardinals’ CB1 starting in Week 1.
If both are as advertised, the Arizona defense will be much-improved, and an improved defense paired with an efficient offense, which is what Arizona’s unit was a year ago, the Cardinals should be contenders in a tight NFC West.
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