We will be bombarded with mock drafts over the next couple of months leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft. Some will have the Arizona Cardinals taking a receiver. Others will have them taking an offensive lineman in the first round.
The first mock draft of the season for NFL.com’s Charley Casserley has them going a different direction. They land a defensive player.
With the eighth overall pick, he projects they will take one of the stars of the week of the Senior Bowl — South Carolina defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw.
Arizona has needs at OLB and DT. At this point, Kinlaw is the best player available at either of those two positions.
On defense, the Cardinals do need help on the defensive line and at both inside and outside linebackers.
Auburn’s Derrick Brown is off the board, going No. 7 to the Carolina Panthers, but the Cardinals pass on Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons.
Generally speaking so far, no pass rusher other than Ohio State’s Chase Young, who most project will be selected second overall, is believed to be a top-10 pick. So if the Cardinals are going with a defensive player, it would probably come down to Kinlaw and Simmons.
Some believe Kinlaw can be as impactful as Aaron Donald has been for the L.A. Rams. He believes he can be better.
Kinlaw could give the Cardinals a true stud inside and make things much better up front, which should make things better for the linebackers in 2020.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
Ep. 257
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