After a steal of a pick in the first round, the Arizona Cardinals have pulled off yet another heist.
That is, if Will Johnson's knee injury is truly healed.
The Cardinals used their second-round pick (pick 47) to select Michigan cornerback Will Johnson. Johnson was considered a first-round talent by most scouts. Presumably, he fell to the middle of round two due to lingering concerns about his injury status.
Here's all you need to know about Will Johnson's injury history
Knee injuries are nothing to ignore. Plenty of players have had their careers derailed by them. Apparently, many NFL teams believe that Will Johnson could have a similar fate.
According to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, "Michigan CB Will Johnson has a knee issue that’s been flagged. It shouldn’t affect him in the short term, but teams are concerned it could impact his longevity."
Johnson and those around him have kept this knee injury under wraps throughout the draft process. He missed significant time in his final season at Michigan, but was listed as being out due to a turf toe injury.
Just when it looked like he had recovered, he suffered a hamstring injury that would keep him from participating in the NFL Combine and Michigan's pro day.
With those injuries known to the public, Will Johnson was still expected to be drafted in the first round. As he fell in the draft, reports indicated that concerns surrounding his knee injury were causing teams to pass on him.
Johnson is adamant that he is fully healthy and ready to play in the 2025 season. He will use this draft slide as motivation going forward. Johnson wants to prove to the NFL that he was worthy of a much higher selection.
Clearly, the Arizona Cardinals were comfortable enough with Will Johnson's medical evaluation to spend a second-round pick on him. When healthy, Johnson is talented enough to be one of the best young cornerbacks in the league.
Cardinals fans will hope that Johnson can stay on the field for as many years as possible.