Arizona Cardinals CB Will Johnson, not DL Water Nolen, projected to make All-Rookie Team
As we wait for the start of training camps next month and see this year's rookie class in action, not only for the Arizona Cardinals but the entire league, we can project who we think will be the best first-year players this coming season.
NFL.com's Gennaro Filice projected the 2025 NFL All-Rookie Team and one of the Cardinals' top draft picks is expected to make an impact.
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Who makes it?
It isn't defensive lineman Walter Nolen, the Cardinals' first-round selection. It is cornerback Will Johnson, their second-round pick.
As NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported during Johnson's draft slide, the cornerback's knee was red-flagged for longevity concerns during the combine. But I'm not here to project which players will make it to their second contract -- I'm trying to identify who'll thrive in their first season. And by that criterion, Johnson is a prime candidate. A highly pedigreed cover man with prototypical size and a mature game, the Michigan product projects as a Day 1 starter in Arizona. And his instinctive ball-hawking feels like a perfect fit in the Cardinals' zone-heavy defense.
Johnson does have a chance to be a Day 1 starter. It isn't a lock, but with Sean Murphy-Bunting's season-ending offseason knee injury, Johnson now will compete with 2024 second-round pick Max Melton and third-year pro Star Thomas for the outside cornerback snaps.
Was Nolen snubbed?
Perhaps, but the two picks for the interior defenders were Mason Graham of the Cleveland Browns and Derrick Harmon of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both will be Day 1 starters and get significant snaps.
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That might not be the case for Nolen and the Cardinals. Their defensive line room is loaded. He will play, but he will not get the snaps that Graham or Harmon do when he has Dalvin Tomlinson, Calais Campbell, Justin Jones, Bilal Nichols and 2024 first-round pick Darius Robinson in the same room as him.
A dark horse potentially is linebacker Cody Simon, drafted in the fourth round. He has a chance to be the Cardinals' starting 'Mike' inside linebacker. If he beats out Akeem Davis-Gaither for the job, he could pile up stats.
Johnson, though, makes sense. Hopefully, he can be as good as he was in college and stay healthy.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Will Johnson pegged for All-Rookie team but not Walter Nolen
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