Did the Arizona Cardinals blow another draft pick on a bust when they chose Will Johnson?
That’s the unanswered question following the end of the Cardinals’ mini-camp. Though Johnson participated in the first half of the two-day practice, he suited up but didn’t take the field during day 2 over a “tight hamstring,” according to Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon.
For fretful Cardinals fans, this had them on edge. Johnson was once considered the No. 1 corner going into the 2025 NFL Draft, but health issues had him slide out of the first round. Had the Cardinals foolishly ignored the signs in choosing him?
Probably not. But if he’s going to have a health issue every other month, his chances of landing a starter position or making a splash as part of the Cardinals' defense or having a lengthy NFL career will get very, very slim.
Needless to say—though a recent Bleacher Report article said it—the pressure’s on.
Will Johnson under ‘pressure’: analyst
After the OTAs and mini-camps, B/R’s Damian Parson took stock of all the NFL rookies and picked the top 6 “under [the] most pressure” heading into training camp. In the middle of the pack was Johnson.
Parson noted that Johnson’s draft slide was due to “multiple question marks, such as his top-end speed and long-term health.” And that despite Johnson’s insistence that he’s fine, Parson writes that Will “has not relieved any worries or anxiety after being drafted.”
Per Parson:
“The 22-year-old is expected to be ready for training camp for the NFL teams during this off period. Once back in the lineup, he must display the complete coverage skill set that initially crowned him as a projected first-round pick.”
Parson sees a possible way to kill two underperforming Cardinals with one stone (the stone being training camps). The analyst writers that Johnson practices against former Ohio State/Big Ten rival Marvin Harrison Jr. will “symbolize iron sharpening iron.”
The B/R analyst ended by saying what everyone has been saying: “Staying healthy will be critical for Johnson,” especially if he wants the Cardinals to “gush with adoration instead of feeling anxiety with buyer's remorse.”
Pressure Makes Diamonds
Like Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy advises: Don’t Panic.
Injured hamstrings usually tighten up as they heal, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Johnson reportedly tweaked his hamstring in the weeks before the draft, which is why he didn’t partake in the NFL Combine or Michigan’s pro-day (though some sites report he was still recovering from his turf toe injury). Johnson did hold a private pre-draft workout but reportedly didn’t run the 40-yard dash, per USA Today.
These are legitimate concerns. The NFL is a violent, competitive, and physically demanding sport. The last thing the Cardinals want is to have an Aaron Rodgers situation where Johnson’s leg self-destructs on the first play of the season.
But, again, don’t panic. It’s June. If he tweaked the hammy in March or April, he’s likely at the tail-end of recovery and doesn’t want to aggravate or worsen the injury.
And Johnson did participate in the minicamp, just not all of it. This was a mini-camp after two weeks of OTAs, a separate rookie mini-camp, and offseason workouts with the veterans (which involved on-field drills).
Johnson has over five weeks until July’s training camp (25-26, 28-30). That’s a long time. If Will’s smart, he’s doing yoga, Pilates, and daily stretching exercises to make himself as limber as possible. And the Cardinals' organization will probably be there to ensure he does.
As for the opps? Johnson has already vowed to make the teams that skipped over him in the Draft “pay” for the disrespect. Those saying he’s a wash before he even began are just going to add fuel to that fire.
And fire, plus pressure, and the raw talent of this exceptional cornerback are going to produce one hell of a diamond.
We hope. If he’s healthy.