Cardinals nab ‘a pick 6 waiting to happen’ in Mel Kiper Jr.’s new mock draft

The Arizona Cardinals’ first-round options in the upcoming NFL Draft have seemingly narrowed after a quick start at enhancing the roster through free agency last week.

While the smart money early this offseason was on the Cardinals adding a pass rusher or interior defensive lineman with their first-round pick, that may not be the case anymore after Arizona helped shore up the position groups with outside additions Josh Sweat and Dalvin Tomlinson.

But while many view offensive line as the next big need this NFL Draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has other ideas in his latest mock draft released Tuesday.

Instead of mocking a pass rusher to the Cardinals at No. 16 overall like he did in his second iteration last month, Kiper turned to the secondary with Michigan cornerback Will Johnson.

And his reasoning is simple.

“He’s an anticipatory corner. He’s a pick-six waiting to happen,” Kiper told Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke on Wednesday.

Kiper’s not lying, either.

In his final two seasons at Michigan, Johnson returned three of six interceptions for touchdowns. And while he didn’t find the end zone in 2022, he still snagged a trio of picks.

For a Cardinals team that was 24th in the league with nine interceptions in 2024, adding a dynamic playmaker like Johnson alongside Garrett Williams, Starling Thomas V, Max Melton and Sean Murphy-Bunting would be a huge boost for the cornerbacks room.

There is, however, Johnson’s injury history to take into account.

While the 6-foot-2, 194-pounder returned a pair of interceptions for touchdowns in his final season at Michigan, the corner appeared in just six games due to a toe injury.

He’s since picked up a hamstring injury and won’t participate in Michigan’s pro day, though is expected to hold a private workout in April, according to ESPN’s Jordan Reid.

“The questions that need to be answered haven’t been,” Kiper said. “That’s why some thought at the beginning of the year, back in August, that he could be a top 10 pick. I have him dropping down just a bit from there.

“He’s one of those guys where the process has to play out as far as a medical standpoint, but when he’s healthy, he was a really good corner for Michigan.”

Get past the injuries, though, and Kiper views Johnson as a value pick at No. 16.

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