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2025 NFL Draft: Contract details revealed for Cardinals second-round pick Will Johnson

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby: Grant Grubbs04/26/25grant_grubbs_
Michigan Wolverines football cornerback Will Johnson had a 42-yard pick-six in a win over USC. (Photo by Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
(Photo by Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

On Friday, the Arizona Cardinals selected former Michigan defensive back Will Johnson with the No. 47 overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Per Spotrac, Johnson is expected to sign a four-year deal worth $9.4 million.

Johnson played three seasons with Michigan, helping the Wolverines win the national title during the 2023-24 season. He was limited to just six games this past season due to injury, but remained one of the top defensive backs in the nation when on the field.

Over the course of his career, Johnson logged 68 tackles, four tackles for loss, nine interceptions, 10 pass deflections and three defensive touchdowns. He set a career high in interceptions with four in 2023.

As a member of the Class of 2022, Johnson was a five-star recruit out of Grosse Pointe (Mich.) South, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 1 overall prospect in the state, the No. 2 cornerback in the class and the No. 16 overall prospect in the class.

What draft analysts are saying about Will Johnson

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein broke down what makes Johnson a very enticing prospect. His pro comparison is current standout Jaycee Horn.

“Teams love big, fluid cornerbacks with ball production and that is exactly what Johnson offers,” Zierlein wrote on his evaluation of Johnson. “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.”