The Arizona Cardinals have questions at wide receiver this offseason. A.J. Green and Christian Kirk both are set to be free agents. It is an area of concern, for sure.
They will certainly address the position in free agency but perhaps they could address the position in the draft, something they have done often in recent years.
In 2019, the Cardinals drafted Andy Isabella, Hakeem Butler and KeeSean Johnson. They added Rondale Moore last year.
In ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper’s newest mock draft, they take a first0round wide receiver for the first time since 2012, when they selected Michael Floyd.
With the 23rd pick in the round, Kiper projects Ohio State wideout Chris Olave to the Cardinals.
Sure, Arizona spent a second-round pick on Rondale Moore a year ago, but he’s more of a slot receiver who could be used in the run game, too. He averaged a staggeringly low 8.1 yards per catch on his 54 receptions, producing just 18 first downs. Think of Olave as more of a replacement for A.J. Green, who is a free agent. Olave can line up outside and run crisp routes to beat cornerbacks. He had 35 career touchdowns for the Buckeyes. This would be a selection to try to make Kyler Murray a little happier heading into an important season.
He isn’t Ja’Marr Chase, but if you see what he did as a rookie to help the Cincinnati Bengals make it to the Super Bowl, you wonder what a young stud receiver could do to this receiving corps.
Olave is 6-1, 190 lbs and has good, although not great, speed. He had 65 receptions for 936 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2021 for the Buckeyes.
A trio of Hopkins, Moore and Olave could be amazing, especially with the mix of skills and experience.
Murray likely laments the Cardinals not drafting his old teammate, CeeDee Lamb, who has become a very good player for the Dallas Cowboys.
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