Former Michigan cornerback Will Johnson was vexed by his stunning fall to the middle of the second round at the 2025 NFL draft.

The two-time All-American with a five-star pedigree was considered a surefire first-round pick throughout the draft process until a report during the night of the first round, April 24, surfaced about teams’ concerns about the health of his knee.

Two weeks have passed since Johnson’s draft day snub, and he’s ready to turn the page and focus on the Cardinals, who selected him with the 47th overall pick.

“The last few weeks, they’ve been good,” Johnson said in his first Cardinals news conference Thursday. “Have been training, getting ready to put my best foot forward and do what I can for this team and all my new brothers in that facility. Happy to be here, happy to get to work and happy to see what’s to come.”

Johnson did not work out at the NFL combine in February or Michigan’s pro day in March because of injuries not related to his knee but said he is fully healthy and “ready to go.”

The 6-foot-2, 194-pounder was projected to go to Arizona in several first-round mock drafts but ended up sliding to the Cardinals in the second. He attended the first round in Green Bay without hearing his name called.

“I think I’ve been able to move on,” Johnson said. “It’s just motivation. I’m just happy to be here, happy to get to work. I know it’s gonna be something special here, so I’m excited for it.”

Although falling to the second round cost Johnson a large chunk of change on his rookie contract, he said the Cardinals’ scheme is an ideal fit for his style of play.

Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon is a former defensive back at Louisville.

“It’s a cornerback’s dream,” Johnson said. “I’m excited to play in it. I’m excited to get comfortable with it and just learn more about it. I’ve learned a good amount so far, so just continuing to learn and get comfortable in it and make a lot of plays.”

Johnson is still getting used to being teammates with a handful of former Ohio State players though, he quipped. Among the Buckeyes on the Cardinals are tackle Paris Johnson, receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., linebacker Baron Browning, fifth-round rookie cornerback Denzel Burke and undrafted rookie tackle Josh Fryar.

“Fresh off the plane, I’m like, ‘man, there are too many of y’all over here,’” Johnson said. “They’ve got to get me out of here. But, nah, it’s cool.”