After being an offensive coordinator in the NFC West for the past three seasons, Mike LaFleur arrived in Arizona with a unique perspective on his new defense. He had studied each of these players twice a season, conjuring ways to exploit their weaknesses.
With Will Johnson, that was a tougher task than most.
There is one play that lingers in LaFleur’s mind, even eight months later. It was Week 18 last season and, after preparing for Johnson all week, LaFleur thought he had spotted a vulnerability. So on second-and-10 from midfield, the Rams dialed up a hitch-and-go with Puka Nacua. The plan was for Johnson to bite on the hitch, opening space for a downfield completion.
Instead, Johnson never even twitched, maintaining nearly 10 yards of depth on top
of Nacua’s route.
“We were trying something on Will, and it's like, wow, we were so far off on that,” LaFleur said.
On this occasion, the play worked out for the Rams. Matthew Stafford escaped a collapsing pocket and found Nacua, who had broken off his route and improvised to find space behind linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither. Sometimes, good players simply make good plays.
But despite the successful result, the play lived in LaFleur’s mind because of what it told him about Johnson.
“You don't really know what Will's gonna do,” LaFleur said. “… It just kinda always felt like when we were playing them, it's like, I don't know if he's gonna play off, I don't know if he's gonna squat, I don't know if he's gonna back up, I really don't know.”
That’s a testament to Johnson’s intelligence on the football field — a trait that once made him a presumptive first-round pick, before injuries pushed him into the second round of the 2025 draft.
“He's got a lot of good strengths, but his greatest strength is up here,” LaFleur said. “He is a smart, smart football player.”
Now, the challenge for Johnson is channeling that ability and emerging as a true lockdown cornerback.
As a rookie, he was more good than great. Among 85 cornerbacks with at least 300 coverage snaps, Johnson ranked 56th in Pro Football Focus’ coverage grade and 77th in passer rating when targeted. Thirty-three of those cornerbacks were targeted less often, even though Johnson played in a below-average Cardinals’ secondary.
Some of his strengths were still evident. He ranked 12th in pass breakups and ninth in forced incompletion rate, showcasing his trademark playmaking ability even without an interception.
The big picture, though, was not quite a game-changing presence. And this Cardinals defense — well, it needs game-changing presences.
Budda Baker is the type of safety who alters offensive game plans, with his ability to roam across the back end. Josh Sweat is a high-level edge rusher circled by every offensive coordinator. Right now, that’s it. But this season, two players — Johnson and Walter Nolen — can realistically ascend to that level. Their ability to make good on that potential will go a long way toward determining the Cardinals’ defensive ceiling over the next few years.
“When you've got a corner that you just feel confident, first, second and third-down, it can change the game; it can change the way teams scheme against you,” LaFleur said. “You don't have to protect them as much.”
Fortunately, there is plenty of reason to believe that Johnson can become that type of player.
The clearest is health. Since arriving in the NFL, Johnson has dealt with a constant string of minor tweaks, including an ankle injury that held him out of practice last week. But last season, none was more impactful than the lower back injury that forced him to miss weeks 10 through 12.
Before that injury, Johnson was emerging as a lockdown cornerback. He ranked eighth of 85 cornerbacks in PFF coverage grade (74.9) and 25th in passer rating when targeted (85.7). After the injury, those ranks dropped to 81st in coverage grade (44.8) and 79th in passer rating (139.4).
Even if minor injuries continue to nag, Johnson should be healthier than he was down the stretch.
“I feel like my body's in a good spot,” Johnson said during training camp. “I feel like I'm very comfortable in this defense and what my role is. So I'm excited to go show it on Sundays.”
His goal for the 2026 season is just one word.
“Takeaways,” he said.
At Michigan, that was his calling card, with nine interceptions in three seasons, including three returned for touchdowns.
Takeaways, though, are a product of doing everything else right. Understanding the play call. Being in the right position. Playing with good technique.
“They say you just gotta be living right,” Johnson said, “and it comes your way.”
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: In Year 2, Arizona Cardinals need Will Johnson to become a star
