Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Jess Root

Daniel Jeremiah’s new mock draft has easy pick for Cardinals

NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah has a new mock draft out following a week of NFL free agency.

There isn’t much to be surprised with at the top of the draft. Quarterbacks Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud are taken with the first two selections and the Arizona Cardinals go with a solid and consistently mocked player with the third overall pick.

They land Alabama EDGE Will Anderson.

I won’t be surprised if the Cardinals trade this pick to Indianapolis, Seattle or Las Vegas. If they stay here, Anderson makes the most sense for a team that desperately needs a difference-maker on the defensive line. 

Anderson is the pick that makes all the sense. He has size and athleticism. He plays with a high motor. He has football IQ. He has a humility you want to see. On top of that, you don’t have to project much in terms of production. He had elite production against the best competition in college football. And after his 17.5-sack season in 2021, when opposing offenses doubled Anderson all season, he still managed double-digit sacks in 2022.

The trade-back scenario is interesting. The Cardinals have been open to a trade for a while as general manager Monti Ossenfort seeks more picks with which to retool the roster.

If the Cardinals stay put, Anderson is the pick that makes sense.

In a perfect world, they could trade back, acquire picks and still land Anderson.

The NFL draft is a little more than a month away. A trade probably will not happen until draft night.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.