The Ringer’s Diante Lee named Arizona Cardinals cornerback Will Johnson as one of the top rookies midway through the 2025 NFL season.
Johnson, along with the Washington Commanders’ Trey Amos and the San Francisco 49ers’ Upton Stout, were listed as some of the top rookie cornerbacks so far this year.
Lee said Johnson has played like a first-round talent this season despite his fall to the second round in the draft earlier this year.
Johnson was one of my favorite prospects in the 2025 draft class. Had there not been questions about his health last spring, he probably would have gone in the first round. But there’s no question that he’s playing like a first-rounder now. Whether he’s been in press or off coverage, he’s done a good job of breaking on routes and competing at the catch point, with five pass breakups in his five games. Arizona’s defensive backfield has been a bit of a disappointment this year, but Johnson’s been a bright spot.
Through five games, Johnson has registered nine tackles with five passes defensed this season.
One of Johnson’s top plays was a hard hit he made on wide receiver Chris Olave during the Cardinals’ season-opening win against the New Orleans Saints.
Johnson has been a part of a cornerback room that has been hit hard with injuries throughout the year, including season-ending injuries to Sean Murphy-Bunting and Starling Thomas V prior to the start of the season.
Johnson suffered a groin injury during the Cardinals’ Week 2 matchup against the Carolina Panthers and missed two games.
Cardinals cornerback Garrett Williams also sustained a knee injury during the Panthers game and was placed on injured reserve.
The Cardinals opened up Williams’ 21-day practice window on Tuesday, giving the Cardinals a potential boost for the cornerback room.
