The Arizona Cardinals have released their in-house media behind-the-scenes look at the 2023 NFL draft. One clip from the show does a great job demonstrating new Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort in action and spotlights the trade made between the Cardinals and Lions in the top 10.
After trading back from No. 3 overall to No. 12 in a separate deal, Arizona is scrambling to move back up. The production shows Ossenfort on the phone with every team picking between No. 5 (Seattle) and No. 8 (Las Vegas).
When the Seahawks rebuke his advances and opt to select CB Devon Witherspoon, Ossenfort quickly pivots to choosing between offers from Detroit and Las Vegas. He chooses Lions GM Brad Holmes’ offer of No. 6 for No. 12 and No. 34, plus a late filler pick that clearly isn’t important to the Arizona brass.
One person who got overlooked in the process is Dave Sears, the Cardinals’ assistant GM. Sears just joined Arizona after spending years with the Lions, most recently as Detroit’s director of collegiate scouting. He’s Ossenfort’s right-hand man, something evident beyond the short clip in the Ari Merov tweet below.
Here's how #Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort worked his way back up from #12 to #6 to get Paris Johnson.
He talked with SEA (5), DET (6), LV (7) and ATL (8). All happening on the fly.
Again, this is AMAZING access.
(via Cardinals Flight Plan on YT)pic.twitter.com/9EsUJ9VV7u
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 9, 2023
It’s a fascinating look at just how quickly everything comes together. The production also reveals that the Cardinals initiated the trade with the Lions as soon as the Seahawks decided to draft Witherspoon — who was suspected to be Detroit’s primary target at No. 6.
Detroit ultimately parlayed the No. 6 pick into RB Jahmyr Gibbs and TE Sam LaPorta. Arizona chose offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. at six.
