ESPN’s Matt Miller likes the Cardinals’ top three player selections in the 2025 NFL draft

Overall reactions to the Arizona Cardinals‘ 2025 NFL draft class have been positive. Our own grades give them an A-minus overall.

They might have gotten the steal of the draft with cornerback Will Johnson, take in the second round after concerns about his knee caused him to fall from what was projected to be as high as the top 10.

He wasn’t the only steal, according to ESPN’s Matt Miller.

He ranked the 100 biggest picks, steals and fits and the Cardinals’ first three selections in the draft all were mentioned.

NFL draft steal No. 1 for Cardinals: CB Will Johnson

Johnson actually is Miller’s No. 2 steal of the draft. He had him as the No. 7 player overall and he fell to pick No. 47.

Johnson was a top-10 player in this class when looking solely at film and not accounting for injuries. While he didn’t want to slip to Round 2, Jonathan Gannon’s system is a great fit for him. Johnson has Trevon Diggs-esque ball-hawking skills and is a shutdown corner when healthy. This is one of the steals of the draft as far as value, as he was taken 40 spots lower than I had him ranked.

My take: Yes, Johnson has the highest ceiling of any cornerback on the roster. However, he has been slowed by injuries (knee, shoulder, toe) in the last three seasons, and that doesn’t even consider the long-term knee concerns there apparently are. And while I believe Johnson that his knee is healthy, doesn’t hurt and he is ready to play, how often has it happened that the Cardinals were right about something the rest of the league was wrong about? That’s my concern.

NFL draft steal No. 2 for Cardinals: DL Walter Nolen

What is interesting is that the Cardinals drafted him No. 16 overall and Miller ranked him 20th, which doesn’t seem like a steal. This is probably more of a top fit.

One scout told me before the draft that Nolen had “the highest potential of any defender in the class.” He’s now paired with Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon, a proven developer of defensive line talent. The Cardinals’ 4-3 scheme will help maximize Nolen’s quick first step.

My take: You have to love the potential. That’s why he was drafted where he was. He has tremendous upside. But please ignore Miller’s ignorant comment about the Cardinals’ 4-3 defense. They don’t run a 4-3. It is a base 3-4. But Nolen still is a good fit.

NFL draft steal No. 3 for Cardinals: OLB Jordan Burch

Burch was drafted 78th overall and was ranked 74th by Miller.

Burch’s physical tools are impressive — his movement skills were apparent when he played Wildcat quarterback at Oregon. He has to round out his pass-rushing tools, but the upside is tremendous.

My take: What’s good about Burch is that he continues the trend of players with production and versatility. He is roughly the same size as Darius Robinson, who the view as a defensive tackle with edge ability. Burch is the size of a D-tackle who plays better from the edge but has some interior ability.

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.