The Arizona Cardinals are looking to make some noise this season, aiming not only for a playoff berth but also to contend for the NFC West title. They’re coming off a year where they came close to a winning record and, at times, played impressive football. While this season presents a demanding travel schedule, the Cardinals have the easiest slate of opponents in their division.
“The combine record for the following opponent was 132-157 last year, 27th in the NFL in terms of strength of schedule in 2025. The Cardinals are tied with Carolina Panthers with a .457 winning percentage for their opponents next year,” Burn City Sports’ Tanner Tortorella wrote.
Arizona focused on defense in the early rounds of the draft, selecting Walter Nolen with their first pick and Will Johnson with their second. Despite Johnson’s injury history at Michigan, the Cardinals were undeterred.
“The knee was flagged at combine testing, the results of which teams typically get in mid-to-late April. In the hours before Day 2, some teams considering Johnson still had questions. Arizona was fine with the issues, and as a result, Johnson had the team circled as a strong possibility entering the start of the second round,” Cardinals Wire’s Jess Root wrote.
When healthy, Johnson plays with physicality and confidence. With Sean Murphy-Bunting ruled out for the season before it even begins, Johnson is expected to shoulder a significant role. According to PFF, he’s the Cardinals’ rookie to watch and could make a major impact if he stays healthy.
“Meanwhile, Arizona’s outside cornerbacks ranked 26th in the NFL in PFF coverage grade last season. If he’s fully healthy, Johnson has a chance to make a serious impact as a rookie.”
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The Cardinals are high on Johnson and believe he could be the steal of the draft. If he can stay healthy through the offseason, ignoring the injuries sustained in college, he’ll be well-positioned to start from day one.
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