With the Cardinals set to hold their first training camp practice on Wednesday, their last unsigned draft pick finally has a contract.
Cornerback Will Johnson, the team's second-round pick, signed his four-year rookie deal on Tuesday morning. The Cardinals reported to training camp later in the day.
"I knew the whole time we would get it done before camp," Johnson said.
"It locks it in. Makes it official. But I've already been here getting to know everybody and working."
The rest of the rookie class had all been signed by early June, with first-round choice Walter Nolen III the most recent addition on June 10. But Johnson, picked 47th overall, had been delayed like the vast majority of the round's choices as players and teams discussed guaranteed money.
Coincidentally, it was the Cardinals' second-round pick of 2024, cornerback Max Melton, who was the lowest draft choice in that class to have any money guaranteed in Year 4 of their rookie deal. Melton was the 43rd overall selection last season.
Johnson is expected to battle for a starting spot in a secondary that has Melton, rising slot star Garrett Williams, as well as Starling Thomas V, Elijah Jones, Kei'Trel Clark and fifth-round draft pick Denzel Burke. Johnson, who dealt with injuries his final year at Michigan, said he has gotten his body right and "I feel I'm in a great spot."
"I have super-high expectations of myself," Johnson said. "I'm going to do a lot of great things here. I'm looking forward to it."
Having Johnson available from the camp's outset can only help.
The first two picks of the second round this year, Cleveland linebacker Carson Schweisinger and Houston wide receiver Jayden Higgins, each signed fully guaranteed deals. The Higgins contract, done first, set a new precedent for the second round and it slowed talks for the players immediately following Higgins spot at No. 34. The domino effect then stalled all second-round talks.
That shifted a week ago, when the 49ers agreed to a deal with defensive lineman Alfred Collins, who was taken 43rd overall and ended up with about $9 million of his $10.3M deal reportedly guaranteed. The rest of the second rounders slowly agreed after that, with Johnson the second-to-last in the round to get his deal -- albeit still ahead of camp.
