Arizona Cardinals Rookie Forecast

Cardinals Rookie Forecast 2025

Solid Starter

Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss – Round 1

A year ago, the Cardinals selected Darius Robinson late in the first round and started to reshape the defensive line for new head coach Jonathan Gannon. Arizona continued the revamp by adding more young talent in Nolen. Prior to the draft, Nolen was a highly debated prospect. In speaking with sources at five teams, the opinions were very split on Nolen. A couple felt that Nolen’s excellent physical talent and improved play at Ole Miss could lead to him being a top 20 pick. Sources at three teams said character concerns and bad tape, especially from his time at Texas A&M, had them projecting Nolen to day two. One playoff team said they had Nolen as a mid-rounder. Hence, Nolen emerged as a real love/hate prospect. But it only takes one team to fall in love, and Nolen ended up being the pick for Arizona in the middle of the first round.

On the positive side, Nolen can be a disruptive defender at the point of attack. Nolen is an athletic defender who gives a good effort as a rusher and uses his hands and feet at the same time. In the pass rush, Nolen is more disruptive than productive. He is quick to fire his gap as Nolen has a good burst off the ball, and he gets into offensive linemen faster than they expect. Nolen uses his speed to push upfield and create some interior pressure. However, he can get tied up after his initial burst. He needs to improve his pass-rushing moves to shed those second-effort blocks and get home more often. Nolen has a good skill set and upside to improve if he works hard at his craft.

As a run defender, Nolen is inconsistent. There are times when he anchors and holds his ground well against downhill runs. There are also plays where he darts into the backfield, blowing up the run and causing critical disruption in the backfield

The Cardinals banked on the upside with Nolen, and he has plenty of untapped potential. Perhaps learning from Calais Campbell will be a great benefit for helping Nolen to know how to become a pro. The inconsistency and character issues keep me from thinking Nolen will be a boom pick, but I do think he could become a solid starter early in his pro career.

2024: Darius Robinson, DT
2023: B.J. Ojulari, OLB
2022: Cameron Thomas, DE
2021: Rondale Moore, WR
2020: Josh Jones, OT
2019: Zach Allen, DE
2018: Christian Kirk, WR
2017: Budda Baker, S
2016: Evan Boehm, C
2015: Markus Golden, LB
2014: Deone Bucannon, S
2013: Kevin Minter, LB

Most Likely To Bust

Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State – Round 4

I thought the Cardinals had a phenomenal first two days of the 2025 NFL Draft, and I do not think Arizona will have a true bust from their first, second, or third-round pick. Fourth-round picks do not typically pan out, and I could see Simon not developing into a starter. He has a limited skill set for the NFL, and I am not confident he will be able to execute in coverage against pro backs, tight ends, and receivers. Simon could be a solid backup and special-teams contributor, so that would not be a true bust of a fourth-round pick.

2024: Tip Reiman, TE
2023: Garrett Williams, CB
2022: Myjai Sanders, DE
2021: Marco Wilson, CB
2020: Leki Fotu, DT
2019: Kyler Murray, QB
2018: Mason Cole, C
2017: Haason Reddick, LB
2016: Robert Nkemdiche, DL
2015: D.J. Humphries, OT
2014: Kareem Martin, DE
2013: Tyrann Mathieu, CB/S

Potential Boom Pick

Will Johnson, CB, Michigan – Round 2

For a lot of the lead-up to the 2025 NFL Draft, Johnson was a consensus top-20 pick, and many thought he would be the second cornerback off the board. The Cardinals hit the jackpot landing Johnson in the second round. An injury that prevented him from working out fully and having an underwhelming workout caused him to slide to the second day of the draft, but it was a great break for Arizona.

In his sophomore season, Johnson (6-2, 205) was the Wolverines’ No. 1 cover corner in helping them to win a National Championship. He totaled 27 tackles with four interceptions and four passes defended. In 2024, Johnson recorded 14 tackles, two interceptions (both returned for touchdowns), and three passes defended. In Week 1, Johnson had a critical interception that he returned 86 yards for a touchdown. In Week 4, Johnson had a huge 42-yard pick-six to help Michigan get a three-point win over USC. A shoulder injury caused Johnson to be held out against Minnesota, and he left the game against Illinois with a foot injury. In early October, Johnson suffered a season-ending injury.

In the pass-driven NFL, teams are always on the lookout for the No. 1 cornerback who can limit the other team’s No. 1 receiver. Johnson has that ability, and he could be a good starter at the pro level. Johnson is blessed with rare physical talent and has prepared well for the next level.

Johnson has just about everything you could want for the NFL, as he has a tremendous skill set. Johnson is big, strong, fast, and athletic. Johnson has the size to match up against big wideouts and is fast enough to run with speed receivers. In off-man coverage, Johnson can run the route and prevent separation with closing speed from making up on the ground on wideouts after their cuts. However, he is not always consistent and will give up some catches in man coverage.

Johnson is excellent in zone coverage. He has tremendous vision and feel to put himself in a good position to cover up receivers and adjust to routes coming into his territory. Johnson also has the size, strength, and speed to be a press-man corner. Along with his physical talent, Johnson is a polished corner who looks pro-ready. He has quality ball skills and will make some big plays.

In the ground game, Johnson is an asset for his defense. He is a willing tackler who will come downhill and throw his shoulder into backs with physicality. That tackling ability makes him a good defender in zone coverage to defend checkdowns to the flat. NFL defensive coordinators will not have to worry about Johnson being a weak run defender at the pro level.

I think Johnson could be a future No. 1 corner for Arizona, and he was a massive steal in the second round that has true boom pick potential.

2024: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR
2023: Paris Johnson, OT
2022: Trey McBride, TE
2021: Zaven Collins, LB
2020: Isaiah Simmons, LB
2019: Byron Murphy, CB
2018: Josh Rosen, QB
2017: Chad Williams, WR
2016: Brandon Williams, CB
2015: David Johnson, RB
2014: Troy Niklas, TE
2013: Jonathan Cooper, G

Future Depth Player

Jordan Burch, DE, Oregon – Round 3

Inconsistency in college caused Burch to slide, but I think, at the very least, he will be a good backup for Arizona.

In the pass rush, Burch can beat blockers with power or speed off the edge. He has a solid burst off the ball to get upfield and rare agility for a long, heavy, defensive lineman. Burch’s agility is shocking with the way he can contort his body and bend around the corner. Burch has the speed to get upfield, and he is capable of running past blockers. He can also be a power rusher who bulls tackles backwards or uses a power rush to gain leverage on blockers. With his strength and length, Burch is capable of shedding blocks to get free. Burch is also a physical tackler who will put quarterbacks or ball carriers on the turf hard. Burch has impressive instincts and vision to adjust to scrambling quarterbacks with a second effort that makes him dangerous in pursuit.

As a run defender, Burch sets a physical edge. He is strong at the point of attack to hold his ground and maintain his gap. He can shed blocks and flow down the line to get tackles out of his gap. With his height and length, Burch could be a real asset as a run defender in the NFL, playing left defensive end against right tackles.

I think Burch could have boom pick potential for Arizona. At 6-foot-6, 270 pounds, they are playing Burch as a giant rush linebacker, and he has the athleticism to do it. While the inconsistency may keep Burch from being a dominant starter, I think at the very least he will be a dangerous rotational edge rusher and a good contributor.

2024: Trey Benson, RB
2023: Clayton Tune, QB
2022: Keontay Ingram, RB
2021: Victor Dimukeje, DE
2020: Eno Benjamin, RB
2019: Deionte Thompson, S
2018: Chase Edmonds, RB
2017: Will Holden, OT
2016: Harlan Miller, CB
2015: Rodney Gunter, DT
2014: Ed Stinson, DE
2013: Ryan Swope, WR