We will see a lot of mock drafts over the next two months leading up to the 2024 NFL draft and, with multiple first-round picks for the Arizona Cardinals, it makes projections interesting, especially for their second selection, being that it is so late in the round at No. 27.
In a new Draft Wire two-round mock draft by Curt Popejoy, the Cardinals’ first pick is not a surprise. The two following selections are used to bolster their defense, which would be quite welcome.
Round 1 (No. 4 overall): Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
Unless the Cardinals trade the fourth pick or Harrison gets drafted in the first three picks, this is the only scenario that makes sense. In this mock, quarterbacks are selected with the first three picks. Arizona has to do this. Harrison is the best receiver and many feel is the best player in the entire draft. He also fills a critical need that could complete the offense for quarterback Kyler Murray.
From Popejoy:
Whenever I mock a quarterback to the Cardinals the Kyler Murray Stans come out strong so here we go. Another year of Murray at quarterback and we give him the best offensive weapon in the draft to throw the football to.
Round 1 (no. 27 overall): Missouri CB CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
The Cardinals are already young at cornerback, drafting two last year and starting four rookies during the season. But they could definitely use a top prospect, which is where Rakestraw comes in.
The Cardinals need help at every level of the defense except maybe at safety, so any impact defender works here.
From Popejoy:
For the Cardinals second first-round pick we just to the defensive side of the football Ennis Rakestraw is a little slight and needs to work on his zone coverage but exhibits elite man skills.
Round 2 (No. 35 overall): Washington EDGE Bralen Trice
The Cardinals only had one sack in their final six games (and even that one sack was a quarterback running out of bounds for no gain). Having addressed coverage with the 27th pick, addressing the rush at No. 35 makes all the sense.
Trice had two sacks and three tackles for loss in the semifinal game against Texas and had seven sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss in 2023.
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