Will Johnson is now Agent Zero for the Cardinals, a jersey number that carries weight for a potential shutdown cornerback.
The team's second-round pick arrived at the Dignity Health Training Center along with the rest of the rookies on Thursday, taking their physicals ahead of Friday's minicamp. That's when he'll sport the No. 0 for the first time.
His college No. 2 was already taken – linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. has that – so why 0?
"Uhh," Johnson began, carefully contemplating his answer. "I wanted to keep it single digit. Yeah, I'm going to just say that for now."
No reason to light up social media by saying it'll represent the number of catches he plans to allow every week. Or even that it represents the number of teams that were willing to take him in the first round of the draft, an outcome he didn't see coming and one that had left him frustrated, angry and driven on draft day.
If those feelings remained, they didn't show up now that he was in the Cardinals' building. He smiled plenty on his first day, surrounded by his new teammates.
"I think I've been able to move on," Johnson said. "It's just motivation."
The good fortune of Johnson falling to pick No. 47 overall still reverberates in Tempe. Coach Jonathan Gannon said during a recent interview with Adam Schein on SiriusXM that when he asked at the outset of the second round the chances Johnson would last until the Cardinals picked, he was told .02 percent.
"We think this guy's a starting corner and just the person is phenomenal, his intangibles, he is very intelligent," Gannon said. "And really is a scheme fit for us, too. So it was like, 'Dude, let's take that guy.'"
If there was anything Johnson was salty about on Thursday, it was the flood of Ohio State products that the Michigan man now called teammates. Linebacker Cody Simon, cornerback Denzel Burke and undrafted offensive lineman Josh Fryar are all part of Johnson's incoming class, and they were met as they got to the building by Ohio State tackle Paris Johnson Jr., who was leaving his workout for the day.
Johnson had yet to run into wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
"Man, fresh off the plane, it was like, 'there's too many of y'all here,'" Johnson said.
"That was the first thing he said to me," Simon said.
Johnson smiled that away too, saying he had grown close to Burke in particular as the two trained together this offseason at EXOS in the Valley.
Johnson also mentioned his bond with first-round defensive lineman Walter Nolen III; the two had tried to play college football together after first meeting when both were in high school. The college thing didn't work out, but they will both contribute to the same NFL defense.
First comes rookie minicamp, which, the way Gannon runs the Cardinals' version, is much more like a rookie orientation than any significant practice. The idea is to get the newbies acclimated to the building and the process. There will be time for significant on-field work – with veterans -- soon enough.
When that happens, Johnson will be ready. Whether he emerges as a potential rookie starter is far off from determination. But the focus to get there is anything but a zero.
"Happy to be here, happy to get to work, and happy to see what's to come," Johnson said.
Images of the Arizona Cardinals starting Phase Two of the 2025 offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Darren Hall (30) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton (16) and Arizona Cardinals cornerback Kei'Trel Clark (13) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Darius Robinson (56) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Baron Browning (5) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Kei'Trel Clark (13), Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jaylon Jones (37), Arizona Cardinals cornerback Garrett Williams (21) and Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson (34) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Jonathan Gannon during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals punter Blake Gillikin (12), Arizona Cardinals long snapper Aaron Brewer (46) and Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland (38) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. (70) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Milo Eifler (48) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Dante Stills (55) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt (72) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) and Arizona Cardinals tight end Travis Vokolek (81) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch (4), Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Tejhaun Palmer (83) and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Xavier Weaver (89) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton (16) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter (22) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman L.J. Collier (91) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Starling Thomas V (24) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Owen Pappoe (44) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Simi Fehoko (80) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals safety Jammie Robinson (26) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Zaven Collins (25) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch (4) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Jonathan Gannon during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch (4) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Darius Robinson (56) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Starling Thomas V (24) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Xavier Weaver (89) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
The Arizona Cardinals during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Dante Stills (55) during Phase Two of the offseason workout program at the Dignity Health Training Facility on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
