Rashad Johnson

Pacing the usage among Cardinals defensive backs last season, Johnson earned 99.2 percent of the snaps, which he supported with a team-high 92 tackles (75 solo) and four interceptions. The achievement was all the more impressive in a secondary boasting talents like Patrick Peterson and Antonio Cromartie, and Johnson further legitimized himself as an IDP force with two pick-sixes, three tackles for loss, one sack, and one fumble recovery. Johnson may have to yield snaps to a fully healthy Tyrann Mathieu in 2015, but the standard established of deploying 5-to-6 defensive backs in a roving, opportunistic style should provide the Alabama product with plenty of chances to rack up counting stats yet again.

Tyrann Mathieu's recovery from last December's ACL and LCL tears has allowed Johnson an opportunity to act as the free safety on the first-team defense. Although Mathieu has started to practice, he likely won't be cleared for full-time work for some time, which should afford Johnson a decent snap count in the early going. Once Mathieu's cap is dropped, though, Johnson will revert to a reverse defensive back. Thus, Johnson is unlikely to match last year's output, which included 58 tackles (52 solo) and three interceptions.

Johnson will return to the Cardinals, with whom he's spent his first four NFL seasons. The 27-year-old recorded just 20 tackles (15 solo) and two interceptions last season, but with Adrian Wilson now out of town, Johnson may get a chance to compete for the starting strong safety job in training camp.

Johnson will back up Adrian Wilson at strong safety in 2012.

Johnson's performance in training camp has left much to be desired and he's expected to be pushed for the No. 2 safety spot (while Adrian Wilson is out), perhaps by Hamza Abdullah.

Johnson will reprise his role as a backup free safety for the Cards this season, serving as the No. 2 option behind Kerry Rhodes instead of former Card Antrelle Rolle. As a rookie, Johnson appeared in 10 games and even started one last season, but he's still a year or two away from being considered a starting option with Rhodes and Adrian Wilson locking down the team's safety spots in 2010.

The Cardinals drafted Johnson in the third round of April’s draft even though they already have a deep group of safeties. A big factor in that decision was the high praise of Johnson’s college coach (Alabama’s Nick Saban), who says that Johnson’s football intelligence ranks among the best he has ever seen. Johnson is a project that will compete for Arizona’s nickelback role with Ralph Brown and fellow rookie Greg Toler this summer. His main drawbacks are his size (5-11) and the Cardinals’ depth. Look for his playing time to gradually expand.