The Arizona Cardinals have a large need this offseason to address. They must improve the pass rush off the edge. Zaven Collins led the team with only five sacks in 2024. They could use their first-round pick, the 16th selection in the NFL draft this year, to address it.
NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks released his first mock draft of the year and believes the Cardinals will go with a pass rusher.
With the 16th pick, he has them selecting Tennessee edge defender James Pearce Jr.
A mass exodus of front-seven defenders in free agency could force the Cardinals to replenish this area of the roster early (and often) on draft weekend. Pearce is an explosive athlete with a developing game as a pass-rush specialist.
He is 6-foot-5 and over 240 pounds and is explosive. Over his final two seasons at Tennessee, he had 17.5 sacks, 28 tackles for loss, an interception and three forced fumbles.
The edge rushers that go before him in the first round are Penn State’s Abdul Carter at No. 2, Georgia’s Mykel Williams at No. 8 and Georgia’s Jalon Walker at No. 9.
Marshall’s Mike Green goes No. 28 overall and Ohio State’s JT Tuimoloau goes No. 30 overall.
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