Possibly the Arizona Cardinals’ biggest steal of the 2025 NFL Draft was getting Will Johnson in the second round. During his time at Michigan, Johnson had nine interceptions and racked up over 60 tackles. He allowed an opposing quarterback rating of 52.6%. He was the defensive MVP of Michigan’s National Championship win in 2023, which makes you wonder why no one else took him.
The Wolverines' cornerback should have gone in the Top 15, but concerns about past injuries kept him from going until the Cardinals got to pick again at No. 47. The Cardinals aren’t worried about his knee, and he was out due to a “turf toe” injury. Johnson says he’s good to go, and for Arizona to make sure he is, here’s what they should give to their new player as part of a welcoming basket.
A new driver (golf, not car)…
Though, getting him a Lyft card isn't a bad idea. Cardinals like to speed.
Johnson should have been a first-round pick, but reports of a knee issue caused his stock to drop. Will said he’s “healthy,” that he hasn’t dealt with any knee problems “in two years,” and that it’s “frustrating” that so many teams passed him up.
“I’m on a mission now,” he said in a post-draft conference call. “They definitely woke me up, for sure.”
There’s bound to be some lingering anger issues. Thankfully, Will has a way to work out his frustrations: golf. In 2024, Johnson told The Michigan Insider that he started golfing “not this [past] summer but last summer,” and that he was hitting the links “a few times a week, grinding.”
There’s plenty of golfing in Arizona; go ask Alice Cooper. The Cardinals should make time for Will to get in 18 holes or to hit a bucket of balls at the driving range. He’ll enhance his focus—which will help him in his play reading—and he’ll sort out any draft grievances.
…and a golf club membership (with plenty of guest passes).
He can bring his friends.
Will Johnson’s tenure as a Cardinal may have started last year when he spent time hanging out with the team’s 2024 top draft pick, Marvin Harrison Jr.
“It’s cool because when I was training in Arizona, me and him went golfing together and we were talking about this moment happening,” Johnson told reporters after he got drafted.
As a member of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Marvin Jr. and Johnson, of the Michigan Wolverines, were on-field rivals. “It’s cool that it actually happened,” Johnson said of him and Harrison playing on the same team, “and we get to compete against each other every day and build that relationship.”
Marvin Jr. caught 62 passes for 885 yards and 8 touchdowns in his rookie season: not bad, but not great. One of the team’s biggest objectives is fixing the chemistry between him and Kyler Murray. Maybe Will Johnson can take those two and Walter Nolen out onto the golf course for some team-building exercises?
Horace Raymond’s phone number.
You might be asking, 'who?'
One person that Will Johnson should speak to once he gets settled with his new team is Horace Raymond, the Arizona Cardinals’ director of community relations. Will has already shown that he has a charitable streak, volunteering in 2022 with the “Will 2 Win” event, which handed out 100 turkeys to families in need at Thanksgiving. Will and his teammate, Semaj Morgan, conducted a toy drive. In 2024, Will’s Will 2 Win Youth Foundation ran its second annual youth camp for students in grades 4-8.
With Will already focusing on giving back to the community and uplifting others, he should know the Cardinals are there to support him off the field, as they do on it. And maybe Raymond likes golfing, too?
Some metal and dub records.
Might we interest you in some Augustus Pablo? And Deftones?
I suggested getting Walter Nolen DAMN on vinyl so he can listen to “Humble” on repeat as a way to taper off his aggressive style of play and avoid any possible penalties. That was mostly just a way to talk about music, but the point still stands.
With Will’s NFL Draft report mentioning of “ball greed” making him susceptible to double moves, so maybe getting some King Tubby or Jackie Mittoo will help him relax and see the bigger picture.
Though he can’t relax too much. The same report notes he could be “more aggressive in block take-ons and run support,” so why not some loud, aggressive music?
Or Will could imagine the team is full of everyone who made his draft stock drop. That'll do it!
A candy bar.
Sometimes, you just need a second.
Specifically, a Kit Kat. During the NFL Draft, Will showed off the custom ring his mom gave him, which opens up to reveal the names of his grandfather, grandmother, mother, and two late aunts. And when GQ asked Will to pick his football GOAT, he picked his dad, a former corner for the Michigan Wolverines who played in the 1993 Rose Bowl.
I get the impression that Will is carrying a lot of pressure to succeed. And it’s good to know that he has a great family supporting him. But as with the case with Marvin Harrison Jr., if Will doesn’t have a record-breaking standout rookie season, it’s fine. We should give this guy, who just turned 22 in March, a chance to get his footing.
Will is now a member of the Arizona Cardinals, the team that puts the “league” in “beleaguered.” He’s competing in a division with two optimized teams (Seattle and the LA Rams) and one agent of chaos (the 49ers). There will be a stiff learning curve, but Will is up for the challenge.
He should remember to give himself a break now and then. He’ll definitely need that. Training camp starts on July 23.