Though the 2025 NFL Draft class is barely two weeks old, people are already making bold predictions about which new player will take home the Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards. And, as expected, there’s plenty of disrespect being lobbed towards the Arizona Cardinals.
Since general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon spent the 2025 Draft focused on the defense, the Cardinals are (essentially) out of the running when it comes to the Offensive Rookie of the Year category. But you’d think that one of the new Cardinals rookies would have a shot at the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, right?
Not so.
Will Johnson Is A Longshot To Win DROY
Arizona picked defensive tackle Walter Nolen (No. 16), cornerback Will Johnson (No. 47), defensive end/EDGE Jordan Burch (No. 78), linebacker Cody Simon (No. 115), cornerback Denzel Burke (No. 174) and offensive guard Hayden Conner (No. 211) in the draft. Out of all of those players, it’s Johnson who appears in DraftKings Sportbook’s early odds for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Currently, Abdul Carter of the New York Giants has the odds to win DROY. His odds are listed at (+250), with Pro Football Focus writing how the EDGE rusher will get “ample opportunities to rush the passer in his first season after generating 66 pressures and a 92.4 PFF pass-rush grade in his final season at Penn State.”
Will Johnson literally has the worst odds of winning, according to these early DraftKings predictions. The Michigan Wolverines alum is currently at +3000 odds.
The players ahead of Johnson? Dallas’s Donovan Ezeiruaki (+2200), Denver’s Jahdae Barron (+2000), Atlanta’s James Pearce Jr. (+1600), Philadelphia’s Jihaad Campbell (+1200), Atlanta’s Jalon Walker (+900), San Francisco’s Mykel Williams and Jacksonville’s Travis Hunter (+750).
Will Johnson’s Reputation Still Haunted By Injuries
PFF credits Johnson’s astronomical odds to—what else?—his history of injuries. “Pending a return to full health for Johnson, Arizona got immense value” by taking Will in the draft's second round. PFF says Johnson could be the dark horse to win DROY if he “is healthy and lives up to his talent.”
Johnson was once projected to be a Top 15 pick, but slid to the second round, giving Arizona the steal of the draft. His draft report pointed out how he connects quickly from the press and can run with the route. He’s excellent at reading the passer (and anticipates routes).
Will racked up seven interceptions and three defensive touchdowns over three seasons at Michigan.
However, his college career was marked by a knee injury in 2023 and a season-ending turf toe injury in October. This is likely why no team took him in the first round.
"They were saying things about my knee and all that, and I haven't really dealt with it in two years, so that's definitely frustrating, but it's all good," said Johnson after the draft, via ESPN's Josh Weinfuss. "I'm at where I'm supposed to be and I'm just happy to be a Cardinal now.”