The three most important Cardinals rookies for the 2025 season

Ossenfort used the 16th overall pick to draft Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen, who led the Rebels to the best run defense in the nation. His 6’4 and nearly 300 point frame is the archetype that Arizona’s defense will need to build on in the trenches. The team’s run defense has been mediocre for the past couple years, and the pass rush is almost non-existent.

Nolen joins a roster with experienced pass rushers like Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson that he’ll be able to pick their brains every practice. After Ossenfort and the front office swinged last year with 1st-round pick Darius Robinson, who’s struggled with injuries, the franchise needs this top pick to be a home run.

2. LB Cody Simon

The Cardinals choosing not to re-sign Kyzir White could lead to problems next season. White led the team in tackes, with 137 and was the green dot for the defense last year. Ossenfort needed to attempt to replace him, and might’ve with Simon. The 23-year-old was the leader of the National Champion Buckeyes’ defense and won the defensive MVP in the big game.

The fourth-round pick is slightly undersized at 6’2 at the linebacker position, but Simon’s IQ makes him an elite prospect. In his final year at Ohio State, Simon had 112 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and seven sacks. His coverage game was stellar too, with seven pass deflections.

ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss has reported that Simon has already made a quick impression on head coach Jonathan Gannon and could see him getting big reps early on in his career.

1. CB Will Johnson

After the injury to last year’s CB1 Sean Murphy-Bunting, Johnson’s importance increased by tenfold. Johnson was already the biggest steal of the draft, being a projected top-10 pick and falling all the way to 47th overall. His injury concerns caused the 22-year-old to fall, but Johnson has reiterated that he’s ready to go, which the Cardinals will need more than ever.

In his last full season at Michigan in 2023, Johnson lead the Wolverines to a national championship and earned defensive MVP in the game. Before falling to injury his junior season, Johnson was on pace to surpass his previous season with two interception touchdowns in the first six games of the 2024 season.

Johnson has the third-best NFL Combine score of any cornerback in the draft. At 6’2, he uses his length and raw athleticism to stick to his assignment to great success. Johnson has a 37-inch vertical jump and had a 4.33 shuttle run at Michigan’s Pro Day. The Cardinals rookie IQ and physical ability make him the most talented defensive back in the secondary already, which the team will need with Murphy-Bunting out.