Jonathan Gannon speaks as Cardinals wrap up 2025 minicamp
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon talks about minicamp at the Cardinals training center in Tempe, on Jun 12, 2025.
The Arizona Cardinals’ offseason program is complete. A process that began eight weeks ago, before the NFL draft, wrapped up on Thursday, June 12, with the final day of mandatory minicamp.
The pads won’t go on until late July, when the Cardinals reconvene after a five-week summer break. But these two months revealed some insight into how the Cardinals could look when their season kicks off on Sept. 7 in New Orleans against the Saints.
Who will be the breakout players? Will the Cardinals reach the playoffs for the first time since 2021?
Here are five takeaways from their offseason workouts:
Will Johnson isn’t completely past his health issues
The Cardinals were able to draft Johnson in the second round because teams had concerns about the long-term health of his right knee, but that wasn’t his only recent health-related issue. The cornerback missed the final six games of last season with a toe injury, then missed Michigan’s pro day with a hamstring problem.
At times during the Cardinals’ offseason program, Johnson appeared to be a full participant in both individual and team drills. But at other times, he stood to the side, closely watching teammates go through work and taking mental notes without actively participating.
Ahead of the Cardinals final practice, head coach Jonathan Gannon revealed that Johnson’s limitations were because he is still dealing with a “little bit of tight hamstring.”
Gannon did say that he expects Johnson to be ready for the start of training camp. Still, the lingering nature of his injury limitations is not ideal.
Walter Nolen looks explosive
Coming out of Mississippi, the scouting report on Nolen started with his explosive burst off the line of scrimmage. During offseason workouts, the Cardinals’ first-round pick showed exactly what that looks like.
There’s only so much that can be assessed when players are practicing on air, without pads. Even still, it was easy to see Nolen’s violence from how he attacked blocking sheds and how he exploded off the line in individual drills.
“You see some traits show up when we go fast,” Gannon said. “There’s no doubt about it. He’s got some twitch to him.”
Calais Campbell knows what that looks like better than most. He’s entering his 18th season largely because of his own explosiveness. On the practice field, he sees those same traits in Nolen.
“He has unbelievable lateral quickness,” Campbell said. “Very few players can go backdoor and then come down the line and make a (tackle for loss). I’ve done that a lot in my career.”
Typically, coaches teach their players to avoid doing that because it can open up holes for running backs. But with some players, Campbell said, coaches are smart enough to allow exceptions.
“You’re not supposed to do that,” Campbell said. “But then sometimes, guys can do it and make plays. And he’s one of those guys that has that unique ability where he has quickness. His quickness is a different level.”
The offense could look different, slightly
In contrast to their defensive overhaul, the Cardinals kept their offense intact over the offseason. And for the most part, it should look similar. The personnel is the same, as is the playcaller. The Cardinals will still rely on heavy personnel, making use of their size and physicality.
But there will likely be a few key differences. The Cardinals repeatedly spoke about tweaking how they work off-schedule, so that they can turn Kyler Murray’s creative ability into more big plays. They also said the offense will incorporate more pre-snap motions and disguises.
“You either feel pressure or apply it,” Gannon said. “That’s a way to apply pressure to the defense.”
There’s one area, though, in which fans might be frustrated to see the offense look similar: Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing said that he still envisions Marvin Harrison Jr. being used as a field stretcher — a role in which he was seldom effective last season.
Top three draft picks could be in line for key roles
Trying to predict the depth chart in June can be a fool’s errand. Still, there are useful tidbits to be gleaned.
Take last summer, when third-round pick Trey Benson was going through drills as the fourth running back, behind Emari Demercado and DeeJay Dallas. That didn’t mean Benson was actually going to be fourth on the Week 1 depth chart, but it was a solid indication to temper expectations of him cutting into James Conner’s workload.
This year, three Cardinals rookies — Nolen, Johnson and third-round edge rusher Jordan Burch — appear to be a step ahead of the rest of the class. Nolen and Johnson are obvious, but Burch has also stood out, occasionally mixing in with the starters.
“Really smart, detailed,” Gannon said of Burch. “We’ve moved him around a little bit. You see some of the physical traits that we saw on tape. … I’m pleased where he’s at right now, he’s doing well.”
Meanwhile, fourth-round linebacker Cody Simon has been behind Mack Wilson Sr., Akeem Davis-Gaither and Owen Pappoe in most linebacker drills. That could be an indication that he — like the rest of the Day 3 draft picks — has a longer way to go.
Mack Wilson Sr. could be the starting middle linebacker
In Gannon’s first two years, Kyzir White ran the defense from his spot at middle linebacker. He operated as the Cardinals’ defensive field general, playing nearly 100% of snaps when healthy.
Now, White is gone, and that spot is up for grabs. The Cardinals did add to their inside linebacker room externally by signing Davis-Gaither and drafting Simon. But the early indications are that Mack Wilson could take over White’s responsibilities.
Last season, Wilson was the Cardinals’ secondary inside linebacker, playing a more versatile role that saw him regularly align on the defensive line and in the slot. Gannon, though, believes that the skill set required for each inside linebacker position is similar.
That should benefit Wilson’s chances of stepping into a bigger role.
“They’re kind of mirrored positions,” Gannon said. “Do they align differently? Do they have different responsibility? Yes. But at the end of the day, in the run game, hit the ball and in the pass game, … be able to close windows, play off the quarterback and … cover people.”