The following is an excerpt from Warren Sharp's 2025 Football Preview book. In addition to Warren's deep, detailed write-up on all 32 NFL teams, each chapter features page after page of full-color charts, stats, and heatmaps as well as draft class analysis from Ryan McCrystal. Click here for a full FREE chapter from the 2025 Football Preview.
With 2025 NFL training camps on the horizon, we’re starting to understand how 2025 NFL draft classes will impact each roster this season.
Let's look at the Arizona Cardinals, breaking down the most likely instant-impact rookies from each class, while also providing some insight into why certain early picks may not see the field.
Who are the Arizona Cardinals rookies?
- Walter Nolen (DL, Ole Miss)
- Will Johnson (CB, Michigan)
- Jordan Burch (EDGE, Oregon)
- Cody Simon (LB, Ohio State)
- Denzel Burke (CB, Ohio State)
- Hayden Conner (OG, Texas)
- Kitan Crawford (S, Nevada)
Arizona Cardinals Draft Class Grade:
The Arizona Cardinals received a C+ draft grade from Sharp Football.
Which Cardinals Rookies Will Make An Impact?
Arizona took a big swing with the selection of Walter Nolen (first round), a former five-star prospect who never fully lived up to expectations at Texas A&M and Ole Miss.
Questions about his maturity and practice habits loomed over Nolen’s draft stock, and it was unclear if he was viewed as a first-round prospect by teams entering the draft.
If nothing else, Nolen was consistent, generating a mediocre 6.5% pressure rate when lined up on the interior in both 2023 and 2024.
Nolen did see some action at nose tackle in 2024, which typically suppresses pressure-rate numbers, but he still only managed a 6.7% rate when lined up as a three-tech with Ole Miss and a 5.4% rate in 2023 with the Aggies.
In the short term, Nolen will serve as a backup for Calais Campbell and Darius Robinson, but will be expected to step in as a starter in 2026 after Campbell’s contract expires.
Will Johnson (second round) generated a lot of hype early in his career for his production in Michigan’s dominant defense and was once viewed as a potential first-round pick prior to a series of injuries.
Ignoring the injuries, there are still some concerning metrics on Johnson’s resume that call into question his ability to live up to expectations when healthy.
During his final two seasons at Michigan, Johnson allowed a catch rate 2% below expected based on route adjusted data 一 not bad, but nowhere near the level of dominance typically demonstrated by top-level prospects.
Fortunately for Johnson, Arizona leans heavily on zone coverage (70% last year), which suits his skill set.
Johnson will be expected to win a starting job immediately and will be expected to lead Arizona’s young crew of cornerbacks.
Jordan Burch (third round) was a surprising selection for Arizona, as his ‘tweener' traits would seem to better fit a team that uses multiple fronts.
Last year, Nick Rallis leaned heavily on a three-man front and exclusively lined up his edge-rushers in a two-point stance. Typically, more athletic edge rushers are a better fit in that role than the 280-pound Burch.
Burch generated a 10% pressure rate on the edge at Oregon last year, and also added a strong 7% pressure rate from the interior. However, based on his use during rookie camp and Rallis’ scheme in 2024, there may not be a role on the interior for Burch.
Rallis will have to get creative in how he uses Burch, and, assuming no drastic changes to the scheme, the best short-term fit might be using him on the edge on early downs where his strength could help against the run.
Cody Simon (fourth round) lacks elite physical traits but is a highly intelligent player with sound fundamentals 一 a classic “green dot” player.
Simon will compete with Akeem Davis-Gaither for a starting role immediately, and it’s plausible he could wear the green dot immediately, as that role was vacated with the departure of Kyzir White.
Simon will be joined on defense by his college teammate Denzel Burke (fifth round), who was a starting outside cornerback in each of his four years at Ohio State.
There were high expectations for Burke after he won a job as a true freshman, but his development stagnated, and his performance dropped significantly in 2024.
Based on route adjusted data, Burke allowed a catch rate 14% above expected last year 一 an embarrassing performance for a four-year starter surrounded by NFL talent.
In the fifth-round, however, Arizona is assuming little risk and will have a chance to work with Burke and try to uncover the talent that allowed him to get on the field as a true freshman.
Hayden Conner (sixth round) was a three-year starter at left guard at Texas and will compete for a backup role.
The 6-foot, 6-inch Conner will probably be given some reps at tackle in training camp to see if he can expand his role 一 a versatile backup is always more valuable.
He’ll also need to prove he can stick at guard despite his height, which gave him issues in college as he struggled to play with leverage in the run game. Texas averaged 1.4 yards before contact when running behind Conner, the worst rate of any of their linemen.
Kitan Crawford (seventh round) will be a valuable addition to the Cardinals special teams unit and will serve as a backup safety.
He finally got a chance to start in 2024 at Nevada, but spent four years as a special teams standout at Texas before he transferred.
Arizona certainly upgraded the talent on the roster with this draft class, but the selections of Nolen and Johnson were particularly surprising for Monti Ossenfort.
While Ossenfort was in Tennessee, he had a front row view of the disastrous first-round selections of Isaiah Wilson and Caleb Farley. Wilson was a historic bust due to work ethic issues, while Farley was drafted despite known injury concerns and ultimately failed to stay healthy.
Despite seeing the downside to gambling on those types of prospects, Ossenfort made both risks with his first two selections in this draft.
If he’s right, Nolen and Johnson will transform Arizona’s defense. If he’s wrong, this will be a memorable draft class for all the wrong reasons.
This analysis continues in the 2025 Football Preview
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