It is another mock draft Saturday and the Arizona Cardinals have addressed a number of needs in the offseason. One of two positions with a glaring roster hole is at receiver, but luckily there are some very talented receiving prospects in the NFL draft.
In this full seven-round mock draft simulation for the Cardinals, there is no first-round trade as in previous projections. This time, quarterbacks are drafted with the first three selections, making the Cardinals’ choice easy.
They do make one trade later on the in the draft, picking up an extra Day 3 pick in this draft and one next year.
Check out the results.
Round 1 (No. 4 overall): Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
With Hollywood Brown signing with Kansas City and Rondale Moore getting traded to the Falcons, the need at receiver is great. The current top three wideouts on the roster are Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch and Chris Moore.
That makes Harrison a no-brainer. He is the easiest receiver to bet on in the draft. He has size, speed, playmaking, on-field production, durability and a Hall of Fame father.
Round 1 (No. 27 overall): Oregon OL Jackson Powers-Johnson
While a defensive player could be nice here, with Powers-Johnson on the board, you can’t turn him away. The Cardinals are happy with Hjalte Froholdt at center, but he is under contract only one more season, and he can play guard. This would give the Cardinals the ability to either plug JPJ in at left guard, which is a question mark right now because the Cardinals are bringing back all four guys who started there last season with no one new, or move Froholdt to guard and let the rookie start immediately. Draft analysts think he could be as good as a top-five center in the league as a rookie.
Round 2 (No. 35 overall): Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
The Cardinals signed Sean Murphy-Bunting and drafted two corners last year, but this addition will give the Cardinals more young talent. a trio of Murphy-Bunting, Garrett Williams and McKinstry sounds very intriguing.
Trade!
Broncos get pick No. 66
Cardinals get pick No. 69, No. 140 (Round 5), 2025 sixth-round pick
Round 3 (No. 69 overall): Oregon DL Brandon Dorlus
The Cardinals keep adding to the defensive line. They re-sign L.J. Collier, added Bilal Nichols, Justin Jones and Khyiris Tonga. They got good play from Dante Stills last year as a rookie. Dorlus adds incredible athleticism to the group.
Round 3 (No. 71 overall): Kansas EDGE Austin Booker
The Cardinals finally address the defensive edge for pass rushers. Thus far, it has been nothing in free agency. Booker is 6-foot-4, 240 pounds and ran the 40 in 4.79 seconds. He had eight sacks and 12 tackles for loss in one season for the Jayhawks after two years at Minnesota.
Round 3 (No. 90 overall): Florida State RB Trey Benson
Benson has size (6 feet, 216 pounds) and speed (4.39-second 40). He averaged 6.1 yards per carry in two seasons for the Seminoles.
Round 4 (No. 104 overall): Florida State CB Jarrian Jones
Jones is another super athletic Seminole. He is 6-foot, 190 and ran the 40 in 4.38 seconds at the combine. He picked off three passes last season. He adds to the youth of the cornerback room but might be th ebest athlete of the group.
Round 5 (No. 138): Iowa TE Eric All
All is coming off a torn ACL and had a season-ending back injury in 2022. But All is 6-4 and 252 pounds. Iowa tight ends have to block, so he will be at least willing to do it.
Round 5 (No. 140 overall): Kansas State OL Cooper Beebe
He is a big, athletic guard at 6-foot-3, 322 pounds. He ran the 40 in 5.03 seconds. He played guard and tackle in college and could be a mauler at left guard like Will Hernandez is at right guard.
Round 5 (No. 162 overall) Miami S James Williams
Williams is a big, scary defensive back at 6-foot-4 and 231 pounds. He doesn’t have great instincts in coverage but could be a box safety or nickel linebacker.
Round 6 (No. 186 overall) USC EDGE Solomon Byrd
Byrd is an old prospect after four years at Wyoming and two at USC. He is 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds. He had six sacks and 11 tackles for loss last season for the Trojans.
Round 7 (No. 226 overall): Washington S Dominique Hampton
To end the Cardinals’ picks, they get a Washington safety with size (6-2, 215 lbs) and athleticism (4.51-second 40, 6.83-second 3-cone, 39-in vertical leap). He had 109 tackles and two picks last season for Washington.
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