ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., has a large following for his mock draft and a reputation for certain success. When Kiper releases a mock draft, fans pay attention.
Kiper’s latest mock draft, his third going into the 2025 NFL Draft, was released last week behind a paywall. Kiper has Michigan cornerback Will Johnson ticketed to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 16.
Johnson was a first-team All-American in 2023, Michigan’s national championship season. He suffered a turf toe injury and played only six games in 2024. He also suffered a hamstring injury that prevented him from participating in the Wolverines’ Pro Day last week, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Will Johnson would give the Cardinals top-five value in the 2025 NFL Draft
When healthy, Johnson is considered one of the best cornerbacks in this year’s draft. He is 6-foot-2, 194 pounds, lanky for a cornerback. Teams crave tall cornerbacks. The Cardinals have emphasized improving their defense this offseason. Arizona had the 21st-ranked defense last season.
Arizona’s big free-agent signing earlier this month was edge rusher Josh Sweat, who has played the last seven seasons in Philadelphia and was one of the stars of the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory over the Chiefs.
NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein wrote about Johnson: “Teams love big, fluid cornerbacks with ball production and that is exactly what Johnson offers. He’s instinctive and plays with good body control and change of direction in space.
“He can play man coverage, but he’s at his best when playing with his eyes forward instead of chasing routes downfield. Johnson displays good pre-snap recognition and can read and anticipate routes/throws at a high level.
“While he plays the role of thief in coverage, he needs to balance that mentality with a healthy respect for NFL route-runners, as he might lack the recovery speed to close the distance at a desired rate. He has coveted traits and his areas of concern fail to stand out as impediments for what could become a long, successful career as a future Pro Bowler.”
Johnson was considered a likely top-5pick before his injury in October. The Cardinals could be getting top-5 value with their 16th overall pick.
In Kiper’s previous mock draft, which was released before the beginning of free agency, he had Texas A&M edge Shemar Stewart going to the Cardinals at No. 16. In his current mock draft, Kiper has Stewart going to the Cincinnati Bengals at 17.
Among Arizona college players, U of A wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan is ticketed to the Denver Broncos at No. 20. There are no Arizona State players in Kiper’s mock draft.