5 questions surrounding Cardinals’ rookies ahead of minicamp

If it all pans out how the Arizona Cardinals envision, first- and second-round picks Walter Nolen III and Will Johnson figure to be contributors — if not starters — in the very near future.

More on them later.

Instead, let’s look at the Cardinals’ Day 3 picks to kick off the biggest questions for the draft class ahead of rookie minicamp this week:

Which Cardinals’ late-rounder has the best chance at starting Week 1?

Of the group, none stand out more as a potential Week 1 starter than fourth-round pick and inside linebacker Cody Simon.

Sure, the Cardinals added Akeem Davis-Gaither and Mykal Walker, a pair of inside linebackers, during free agency in an effort to fill the position group post-Kyzir White.

Neither, however, has been a consistent NFL starter. While they may be veteran options opposite Mack Wilson Sr., the door is very much open for a guy like Simon to slide into a starting role, especially given his high-level football IQ.

Which Cardinals later-round draft pick has the best chance at starting in 2025?@koval_lauren and I make our pick!

Full episode: https://t.co/JLNcqun0UR pic.twitter.com/hE9BS761R9

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) May 3, 2025

NFL.com’s Chad Reuter doesn’t think the idea is farfetched, either, naming Simon as one of the most likely Day 3 rookies to earn starter reps in 2025.

“He’s a guy who’s played a lot of ball at Ohio State,” general manager Monti Ossenfort told Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke last week. “He was the green dot for their defense, so he’s making the calls, lining up the defense. He was a captain for them. They have an award called the Block O award, which is given to the player in the program that’s … doing everything right in terms of practice and preparation.

“In all of our dealings with Cody, that’s definitely shown through. That’s so important at the inside linebacker position, where communications and the mental aspect of the game are vital to that role. It’s really the quarterback of the defense. We think Cody brings a lot of those intangibles, plus having the physical attributes to do the job.”

Will Hayden Conner find himself in the mix at right guard?

As of Monday, the Cardinals’ two biggest offensive moves this offseason are not exactly eye-popping:

– Signing backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett
– Drafting Texas guard Hayden Conner in the sixth round

Brissett isn’t expected to see much playing time sitting behind franchise quarterback Kyler Murray. That’s supposed to happen.

As for Conner, his playing time as a rookie could depend on how the right guard situation shakes out.

With how the roster is constructed, second-year pro Isaiah Adams should get first crack at right guard starting reps after getting some run late in the season last year.

That’s not to say Conner or Jon Gaines II couldn’t press Adams for the role. You can never have too much competition or depth.

What happens at right guard is one of the biggest storylines heading into training camp for the Cardinals.

Will Jordan Burch be inserted into the trick-play conversation?

He’s officially labeled as a pass rusher, but third-rounder Jordan Burch should probably just be listed as an athlete.

This fake punt is just one example of Burch’s abilities:

Jordan Burch is a 6-6, 295-pound star DE.

Dan Lanning decided to let him run a fake punt last night, and he looked like a natural RB 😱#B1GFootball x @oregonfootball pic.twitter.com/uBbNh8mrli

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 10, 2024

That should have special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Jeff Rodgers, who’s been known to creative, grinning from ear to ear.

Burch has his work cut out for him in a crowded outside linebackers room that is led by Josh Sweat, Zaven Collins, BJ Ojulari and Baron Browning.

He clearly has the ability to carve out a role as a special teamer early on, though.

Who makes the bigger impact as a rookie? Walter Nolen or Will Johnson?

OK, back to the top of the Cardinals’ draft class.

Nolen and Johnson headline the group of youngsters heading to Arizona this offseason.

Their paths to starting aren’t so clear, at least from the jump.

Nolen enters a revamped defensive line room where Calais Campbell, Dalvin Tomlinson and Darius Robinson figure to the picture. The depth is loaded behind them, with Dante Stills and L.J. Collier coming off career years and veterans Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols rounding out the room.

That’s not to say Nolen can’t shoot up the ranks. He’s just got a lot more competition.

Johnson, on the other hand, has a clearing in front of him.

Arizona has plenty of outside options in its cornerbacks room, with Max Melton, Starling Thomas V and Sean Murphy-Bunting leading the way.

But while each has earned starting reps in their Arizona tenures, they haven’t truly solidified their spot in the secondary.

Johnson brings added size and a college resume full of highlight reels.

The biggest knock on the rookie cornerback? His injury history, though Johnson and the Cardinals front office have both reiterated he’s healthy.

If Johnson can get away from the injury bug at the NFL level, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be in the starting conversation.

Which undrafted free agent signing has the best chance at making the 53-man roster?

The Cardinals have found a pair of diamonds in the undrafted rough with Thomas and running back Emari Demercado.

Each made sizable contributions on their respective sides of the football, with Thomas starting 22 games in two seasons and Demercado serving as Arizona’s primary third-down back.

Is the next success story among the crop of 2025 undrafted signings?

If so, wide receiver Bryson Green might have the best shot given the current makeup of the WRs room.

While Arizona seems content in running it back with Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch as the primary wide receiving options, there’s certainly an opening for some new blood to contribute.

Green’s college numbers don’t necessarily jump off the page, with his best season (36 catches for 584 yards and five touchdowns) coming in 2022 with Oklahoma State.

What does, though, is his career yards per reception (14.7) and physicality to fight through defenders.

New #Badgers WR Bryson Green. 36 catches, 584 yards, 5 TDs in 2022. Has two years of eligibility remaining. pic.twitter.com/XmcVsZbiyp

— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) January 13, 2023

Beyond Harrison’s team-leading 14.3 yards per catch, Wilson was second among Cardinals pass catchers at 11.7.

There’s a clear need for another pair of hands that can stretch the field, whether it be Green or someone else on the roster.

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