Cardinals David Johnson picked ninth in 2015 re-draft

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson made a substantial jump in NFL.com’s 2015 NFL Draft do-over, going from third-rounder to the top 10 overall.

Lance Zierlein had Johnson going to the New York Giants with the ninth overall pick, a 77-spot jump from where the Cardinals acquired him. The Giants actually drafted offensive lineman Ereck Flowers ninth overall, who has started 31 games for New York.

Johnson has become one of the most complete runners in the game and would have been a great addition to complement Eli Manning.

Johnson bloomed into a star in his second season, leading the NFL with 2,118 all-purpose yards. The Northern Iowa product won two player of the week honors as well as being a Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection. Johnson is part of a string of good third-round choices by the Cardinals, including Tyrann Mathieu (2013) and John Brown (2014).

Going ninth also makes David Johnson the top running back taken in the re-do, ahead of Todd Gurley at 10 and Melvin Gordon at 15. Both running backs were taken in their actual spot in the do-over.

Arizona also went a different route in the first round redo. Instead of drafting tackle D.J. Humphries at 24, they chose wide receiver Stefon Diggs from Maryland. Diggs, the 146th pick by the Vikings, has collected 136 catches for 1,623 yards and seven touchdowns in his two seasons.

Playmaking wide receivers like Diggs happen to find themselves targeted by Arizona.

Humphries, who after not playing as a rookie made 13 starts for Arizona last season, went to the Colts with the 29th pick.