The Facts: Third-round pick David Johnson has the makings of a player who can have an immediate impact out of a small school. He’ll enter offseason workouts with an opportunity to be a three-down running back if he can learn the Cardinals’ offensive scheme, HC Bruce Arians said. It’s unlikely, however, that he’ll supplant Ellington as the starting running back. “I think Andre will continue his same role,” Arians said. “We’ll keep him healthy and let him continue to develop as a player, but the nice thing David can do is he can do everything Andre does, so you don’t have to change if there was an injury.”

Diehards Line: Still, after a season in which Arizona lost its top two running backs, having a back with the size and versatility as Johnson will be a welcomed relief. “He’s got good power, but his receiving ability is as close to Andre’s as anybody I’ve seen,” Arians said. When Johnson talked to Arians on the phone Friday night, he reminded the coach he can also be a returner. Arians countered by reminding the Northern Iowa product that he hadn’t forgotten. Johnson and “anybody else who can catch it” will compete for the vacant returner job. As a senior, Johnson averaged 36.5 yards per kick return and scored a touchdown. Whatever the case, selecting Johnson addresses a specific need -- improving a run game that averaged a league-low 3.29 yards per carry. And Ellington was a big part of that.