Each day, we get closer to the 2025 NFL season. The anticipation is almost at a fever pitch, as if they combined the excitement for every single birthday you ever had with each Halloween, Summer Vacation and New Year’s Eve—and then added a pound of Pop Rocks with a gallon of soda.
Speaking of which, one Arizona Cardinals rookie is expected to pop off this season and have the most immediate benefit to the team. The biggest bang for your buck, if you will. And to fans who have been watching the team during the offseason, the name is no surprise.
But really, can’t we retire the “if he’s healthy” bit, now?
Will Johnson will 'immediately upgrade the defense'
Last week, Fox Sports’ veteran NFL reporter Carmen Vitali ran down the list of which rookies from each NFL team would make the most significant impact in the coming season. And when it came to the Cardinals, Vitali picked Will Johnson as the immediate game-changer to the Cardinals’ defense.
“Provided he’s healthy, Johnson will immediately upgrade this defensive backfield in Arizona. They had a lot of work to do defensively and they did it. This all of a sudden looks like a pretty complete team to compete in the NFC West.”
The other rookies of the NFC West poised to make a splash are Josiah Stewart of the Los Angeles Rams (“I love upgrading the pass rush here”), Mykel Williams (“His position flexibility allows San Fran to do some fun things up front”) and Grey Zabel (“The Seahawks’ offensive line needed upgrades badly, which is where Zabel comes in”).
Enough With ‘If He’s Healthy’ Already.
We’re all looking forward to the start of the NFL season, but Cardinals fans are especially eager to get the show on the road, if only to put the constant “If Will Johnson is healthy” narrative to rest. It seems that whenever anyone mentions Will Johnson, they have to include a precautionary “if he’s healthy” disclaimer. And it’s getting old.
The Cardinals scooped up Will Johnson in the second round of the NFL Draft and, to be honest, they shouldn’t have been able to.
Johnson—a 22-year-old All-American, CFP national Champion, CFP National Championship Game Defensive MVP, and elite cornerback for the Michigan Wolverines—was expected to go in the first round. He was invited to the NFL Draft’s green room. He had the best draft day drip—no question.
But there were concerns over his health. Johnson suffered a knee injury that required minor surgery following his freshman season in 2022. He missed seven games last season for a shoulder issue and a toe injury.
Will’s father, Deon Johnson, told The New York Times that the surgery was “not an extensive procedure” and that his son “hasn’t had any complications, any soreness, any swelling, any concern of the knee in over two years.”
Will promises to make those who skipped over him “pay” for the disrespect, and that day cannot come soon enough. Because either he’ll fall apart, and the naysayers will crow about how they were right to downplay his value. Or Will Johnson will have his revenge and be part of a Cardinals defense that terrorizes the rest of the league.
Either way, we’ll put to bed the “if he’s healthy” rhetoric once and for all.