Every year, taking players from the college ranks has been the basis of improving every roster in the NFL. April’s NFL draft is one of the most important aspects of building a team and plugging holes.
This year, the Arizona Cardinals’ GM Monti Ossenfort focused on getting quality players for the defensive side of the ball. With seven picks, he chose six defenders with OG Hayden Conner of Texas the lone offensive guy.
RELATED: CARDINALS SNAP 5-GAME LOSING STREAK
And here it is, Week 9. The Cardinals just defeated the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football 27-17. A lot of Arizona players made big plays throughout the game, including the usual suspects such as WR Marv Harrison, QB Jacoby Brissett, DT Calais Campbell, K Chad Ryland, and DE Josh Sweat.
The Cowboys had not lost a game at home all year. Their offense was ranked #2 in the league and had scored 40 points at home three times this season.
Dallas thought they were going to light it up against a two-win Arizona squad and blow the Cardinals out. Defensively, rookies shined.
But intermixed into the game were many exceptional plays from this year’s rookie class.
DT Walter Nolen
Round 1, pick #16
Front and center was the debut of DT Walter Nolen, Arizona’s first-round pick out of Ole Miss. He had a really good first game. His first stat was a two-yard loss of Cowboys RB Javonte Williams with just three minutes and 43 seconds elapsed in the first quarter. Williams took the handoff on the first-and-goal from the seven-yard line as Nolen beat LG Tyler Smith and nailed the running back for a two-yard loss.
Nolen was selected with the 16th pick in the first round and the third defensive tackle taken. He spent two seasons with Texas A&M before transferring to Ole Miss. For his college career, he had 114 tackles with 11.5 sacks, 25 tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries, and four batted passes. Nolen was voted First Team All-SEC, named a consensus All-American, and received an invite to the Senior Bowl, where he dominated.
Unfortunately, his NFL career was sidetracked before it even began due to a calf injury he suffered before training camp. He ended up on the PUP list as Week 1 rolled along. So, the Cowboys’ contest was his introduction to the league and also to Arizona fans.
Against Dallas, he was able to come from behind and tackle WR CeeDee Lamb, was had made three Arizona defenders miss and was still weaving in and out in the middle of the field. In the third quarter, Nolen batted down his first NFL pass. But his “Welcome to the NFL” moment came later. Although he didn’t start, he played early and often. He had three tackles in the game going into the fourth quarter.
The Cardinals did not have a pitch count on Nolen, even if it was his first-ever NFL game. They did limit his playing time, and no matter how he played, they didn’t want him to be on the field for a large number, like 60 plays. They wanted him to get back some rhythm and push the pocket in a rotational situation. He played on 37 defensive snaps, or 55% of defensive plays.
Dallas QB Dak Prescott had just connected with WR George Pickens on an 11-yard completion that got the Cowboys to the 35-yard line of the Cardinals with 5:40 remaining. This was already a good drive. On a first-down play, Nolen engaged with Smith, who barely got a hand on his defender as Nolen was able to sack Prescott for a six-yard loss. Two plays later, Dallas fumbled with an Arizona recovery, and the Cardinals dodged a bullet. It was Nolen who began the bad string of events.
CB Will Johnson
Round 2, pick #47
Johnson was part of Michigan’s National Championship roster in 2023. He was the MVP of the National Championship Game. Accolades include being named First Team All-American (2023), Second Team All-American (2024), First Team All-Big 10 (2023), and Second Team All-Big 10 (2024), plus he was voted to the Freshman All-American Team (2022).
So, he came to the Cardinals with plenty of all-star hardware. He was known for having a nose for the ball with his nine career interceptions and had plenty of experience playing in 32 games with 22 starts.
Will Johnson (0) tackles Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) - Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Will Johnson (0) tackles Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) - Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
But he suffered a groin injury, which sidelined him for two games. Entering the week before the Cowboys’ contest, Johnson was questionable to play and ended up being active. This was excellent news because Dallas has an explosive offense with several dangerous receivers.
In the Cowboys game, Johnson was assigned to cover WR George Pickens, who is a dangerous receiver and listed in the Top-10 of the league’s receivers. In the first half, Pickens had only two catches for 28 yards, which is certainly very low production for such a dynamic receiver. For the game, Pickens ended up with just six catches for 79 yards with zero touchdowns.
The Cardinals secured two takeaways on Dallas’ final two possessions. With 4:46 left in the fourth quarter, LB Cody Simon and Johnson tackled Williams, who fumbled, which became an Arizona recovery and stopped the high-flying Cowboys offense once again. This takeaway sealed the victory for Arizona.
Jordan Burch (52) Syndication: Arizona Republic
Jordan Burch (52) Syndication: Arizona Republic
Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
You can’t say that Johnson keeping Pickens to 79 yards was the reason the Cardinals won, but it certainly was part of the equation of keeping one of the league’s electric players out of harm’s way. Add the fact that Johnson came into this game right off a bad injury was remarkable, plus he only missed one defensive snap.
DE Jordan Burch
Round 3, pick #78
Burch has the misfortune of being EDGE rusher Josh Sweat’s backup. But every player along the defensive line gets taken out in order to rest. It keeps this group fresh. Burch got 26 defensive snaps, or 39% of all defensive plays. He had just one tackle in this game and stopped Williams after a two-yard gain in the third quarter. But he is getting more and more defensive snaps. He is also an important member of both kickoff and punt coverage teams, where he has played on 46% of all of these types of special teams.
LB Cody Simon
Round 4, pick #115
Special teams rely on players such as Simon, who can tackle and have some speed. So, you see him on punt coverage and on kickoffs. Against the Cowboys, he was used on 78% of special teams. But he has been getting additional defensive plays and got 20 snaps in this game.
And he provided one of the most important plays in the game.
The Cardinals were up by 10 points, but Dallas got the ball back with 7:11 to go. The Cowboys went to the air and completed several larger chunks of real estate to get to Arizona’s 41-yard line. On a third-and-12, Prescott hit Williams on a short dump pass because everyone else was covered. It was clear that Williams was not going to get the first down, but he put his head down and attempted to plow through as many defenders as he could.
Will Johnson had hold of Williams as Simon dove into the tackle. As he approached Williams from his backside, Simon took his fist to the ball and punched the ball out. Cardinals LB Akeem Davis-Gaither jumped on the loose ball, and no points were added to the Cowboys’ scoreboard.
Extremely important play in this game and a turning point. Simon’s other two tackles were on punt coverage.
CB Denzel Burke
Round 5, pick #174
Burke is one of those players who look good on certain days on the practice field, then will have issues the following day. Against the Cowboys, he had a banner day.
Denzel Burke #29 (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
Denzel Burke #29 (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
Getty Images
He is actually CB Max Melton’s backup as the right cornerback. He has played in every game on the schedule with a varying degree of defensive snaps. He has three games with fewer than three defensive snaps, while against the Carolina Panthers, he played on 67 defensive snaps, or 78% of defensive plays. And in every game, he has played on punt and kickoff coverage teams.
But his coming-out party was against Dallas.
In the second quarter, Melton sustained a concussion and left the game. Of course, he would be ruled out. He was injured on special teams on the kickoff after the blocked punt for a touchdown. As the Cardinals now had the ball, Melton was evaluated. QB Jacoby Brissett scored on a sneak from the one, and with 49 seconds left in the first half, out trotted Burke.
His assignment? Speedy WR KaVontae Turpin, or the Cowboys’ best set of hands, CeeDee Lamb.
With just over eight minutes left in the third quarter, Turpin caught a six-yard pass with Burke on a great open field tackle along the right sideline on a third-and-goal from the 14. If Burke misses, it is six points for Dallas. The Cowboys connect on a field goal instead.
On Dallas’ next possession, they drove to Arizona’s 28. On third-and-nine, Prescott found Lamb for six yards in front of Burke. Again, a sure tackle. Now it was fourth-and-three at the Cardinals’ 21-yard line. The Cowboys’ field goal team remained on the sideline. Dallas was confident that a rookie fifth-round backup cornerback should be who they should pick on against a four-time Pro Bowler like Lamb.
It was the first play of the fourth quarter. Prescott was in shotgun formation. Three receivers set on the rightside. The snap was on target. Nolen and Calais Campbell began the process of collapsing the pocket. Prescott then heaved the ball before he was sacked at the 30. The pass is on target for Lamb at the eight-yard line with Burke in tight coverage.
A good leaper, Lamb went up for the ball as Burke came from his backside, then placed his right hand in the catch basket and swatted the ball away as the line judge stood motionless just a few yards away.
Burke jumped up in excitement, but Lamb never made any motion for a defensive call. He knew the play was clean.
This was a pivotal play and showed the Cowboys’ offense that the Cardinals had come to play. Burke would add an interception on the Cowboys attempted Hail Mary. Burke tied for the most tackles in the game with seven and demonstrated that, conceivably, he deserves more playing time. Perhaps Arizona has found a gem in Round 5.
OG Hayden Conner
Round 6, pick #211
Currently listed on IR since August 26.
S Kitan Crawford
Round 7, pick #225
Crawford had 18 snaps on special teams and did not register any tackles against Dallas. For the season, he has played on 31 defensive snaps (6%) and 145 special teams snaps (80%).