The Arizona Cardinals have added players at key needs in free agency. How does that change their approach to the 2019 NFL draft?
Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling has a new mock draft that goes four rounds now that the first wave of free agency is done. In it, the Cardinals go with four offensive players in the first four rounds, giving new coach Kliff Kingsbury some new players to work with on offense.
Who do the Cardinals land in this mock draft?
Round 1: Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray
Easterling finally joins the dark side. After weeks of projecting Alabama DT Quinnen Williams, he joins the throngs of those projecting Murray No. 1 to the Cardinals.
It seems crazy that the Cards would spend the No. 1 pick on a quarterback just one year after trading into the top 10 to pick one, but the draft is full of crazy every year. Don’t be surprised if this is what goes down, with the Cardinals sending Josh Rosen to the highest bidder.
Round 2: West Virginia OT Yodny Cajuste
The Cardinals acquired Marcus Gilbert in a trade but both he and D.J. Humphries are going to be free agents. Cajuste could be a starter in 2020 and could get playing time in 2019 considering the injury history of both players.
Round 3: Stanford WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside
Arcega-Whiteside is a big-bodied receiver at 6-2, 225. He has leaping ability and his production increased each year while at Stanford, catching 63 passes for more than 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2018.
He has good, strong hands but does not have great speed. He can be an Anquan Boldin-like receiver in terms of his potential ceiling.
Round 4: Oklahoma G Dru Samia
The Cardinals add to the offensive interior with Samia, Kyler Murray’s college teammate. He provides depth for now, as both Justin Pugh and J.R. Sweezy project to be starters.
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