The Arizona Cardinals bucked a trend during the 2025 NFL draft and selected former Michigan Wolverines cornerback Will Johnson with in the second round, adding him to their team with the 47th overall selection.
Johnson had been projected to go in the top ten for years leading up to this April's turn of events, after starting his career as a five-star high school recruit and ending it as a three-time Big Ten Champion and one-time National Champion.
On Friday, Johnson had a clear, direct message to opposing receivers, showing once again that he does not lack for confidence despite the myriad injuries he's dealt with over the past 12-plus months.
Will Johnson of the Arizona Cardinals.
Will Johnson at an organized team practice on June 3, 2025 in Tempe.
© Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
"#NFZ," Johnson wrote on X, meaning 'No Fly Zone,' as he shared the message along with a red circle with a line through it.
The Cardinals cornerback now boasts 18,700 plus followers on X and finds himself in the position of needing to prove himself after his recent slide in the draft.
Fans reacted in the comments section on Friday.
"That red scared me for a sec," one fan said. "Prove the doubters wrong."
"Give him some giant red Cardinal wings...And it gets scary," another added.
"Steal of the draft," a Michigan fan chimed in.
Johnson led a Wolverines secondary that was arguably the best in the nation as Michigan dominated Michael Penix Jr. and the Washington Huskies en route to the 2023-24 national championship.
His clutch interception of Penix helped the Wolverines put distance between themselves and their title game foes before fellow Wolverines DB Mike Sainristil sealed the game with another interception.
Johnson will now join his former Wolverines colleague in the NFL, in hopes of leading a Cardinals resurgence similar to the one Sainristil sparked last season in Washington.