The Arizona Cardinals wrap their June 2025 minicamp with high hopes for their rebuilt defense. Rookie Will Johnson is healthy, joining vets like Calais Campbell.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The Arizona Cardinals closed the books on mandatory minicamp Thursday, and the feeling coming out of Tempe is one of palpable optimism. Head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed the best news of the week: top rookie cornerback Will Johnson is expected to be fully ready for training camp after dealing with a hamstring issue. It's a massive relief and the perfect capstone to an offseason defined by a bold defensive reconstruction.
We've accelerated the learning curve. The new guys, vets and rookies, they've bought in. Now it's about staying sharp until we hit the grass on July 22nd.
The story of the Cardinals' offseason has been the radical transformation of their defense. After finishing 8-9 last season, GM Monti Ossenfort and Coach Gannon went all-in, adding veteran powerhouses like Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson, and the returning fan-favorite Calais Campbell in free agency. They followed that up by using six of their seven draft picks on the defensive side of the ball. Campbell is already making his presence felt, mentoring the younger players and setting a new standard. The news that second-round pick Will Johnson, a cornerstone of that draft class, will be healthy for camp is the final piece of the puzzle, ensuring the secondary will have its key rookie ready to contribute from day one.
While the defense has been rebuilt, the engine of the team's playoff hopes remains the offense, specifically the connection between Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. As they enter their second year together, the pressure is on for the duo to elevate their game from promising to dominant. Their chemistry will be under the microscope throughout training camp, as their ability to consistently create explosive plays is seen as the key to unlocking the offense's full potential and turning close losses from last year into wins.
The optimism isn't just coming from the coaching staff. New running back Trey Benson spoke to the media with a palpable sense of excitement, confident in his role and the team's trajectory. This confidence seems to be spreading throughout a locker room filled with new faces. Coach Gannon's final message to the team before their five-week break was about maintaining focus and building on the foundation laid during OTAs and minicamp. The message was clear: the time for learning is over, and the time for competing is right around the corner.
As the players head off for their final break, the stage is set for a pivotal training camp, which kicks off July 22. The questions are clear: Can this massively upgraded defense live up to the hype? Will Murray and Harrison Jr. become one of the league's elite duos? The Cardinals have laid the groundwork for a serious run at the NFC West. Now, they just have to prove it.
