The NFL draft is a little less than a month away and many scenarios have been played out for the Arizona Cardinals. While many feel like the decision has been made to select Kyler Murray with the first overall pick in the draft, that probably will not happen until there is a deal in place to trade Josh Rosen.
Since that hasn’t happened yet, they could trade back in the draft instead and acquire more picks. This new full draft simulation I ran with FanSpeak’s On the Clock has a surprise trade partner. Instead of the Oakland Raiders or New York Giants, the Jacksonville Jaguars want the first pick to take Alabama DT Quinnen Williams and give the Cardinals the seventh overall pick, their second-round pick and two third-round picks to move up.
That gives the Cardinals six picks in the top 100.
Here are the results of the simulation.
Round 1, pick 7: Houston DT Ed Oliver
Before Quinnen Williams got the nod as the top DT in the draft, Oliver was considered a possibility for the first overall pick. He has freakish athleticism that matches up well against DTs, edge rushers and even off-the-ball linebackers. He missed four games in 2018 but still had three sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. He piled up 13.5 sacks and 53 tackles for loss in three seasons.
The Cardinals need talent on the defensive line and putting him next to Chandler Jones or Terrell Suggs while Darius Philon lines up next to the other could make the Cardinals’ defense one of the best up front.
Round 2, pick 1: Oklahoma WR Marquise Brown
The Cardinals take one of Kyler Murray’s biggest playmakers here. Brown has that speed and playmaking ability Kliff Kingsbury is looking for. He is fully cleared to run now after offseason Lis Franc surgery. The Cardinals need weapons for Josh Rosen and he will like throwing to Brown.
Round 2, pick 6: Boston College G Chris Lindstrom
Now the Cardinals begin to bolster the offensive line. Lindstrom is a very good choice on the interior. He can compete for a starting job in Year 1.
Round 3, pick 1: Mississippi State S Johnathan Abram
The Cardinals have an official visit lined up for Abram. They are set at safety in terms of starters but D.J. Swearinger will be a free agent after 2019. He has speed and physicality. He is built like and plays a lot like Swearinger.
Round 3, pick 5: Texas A&M C Erik McCoy
McCoy is another who has a private visit with the team. In the real draft, he might go in the second round and some even speculate he might be the Cardinals’ pick at the top of the second round. But he was available in this simulation so t was a no-brainer. Kliff Kingsbury and Steve Keim have both talked about one of the great things about Mason Cole being his ability to play multiple positions. McCoy very well could be the team’s starting center, even as a rookie.
Round 3, pick 28: Kentucky CB Lonnie Johnson
Johnson kept being available and I had my eye on him, but was unwilling to watch him get selected. The Cardinals trade the 34th pick in the round and their final two seventh-round compensatory selections to move up six spots. They land Johnson, bolstering the depth at cornerback. Johnson was one of the DBs the Cardinals scouted at Kentucky’s pro day.
Round 4, pick 1: Texas A&M TE Jace Sternberger
Arizona had a private workout with Sternberger, who can stretch the field as a tight end. Kingsbury gushed about Charles Clay, whom they signed in the offseason, and will surely love Sternberger’s skill set.
Round 5, pick 1: Texas Tech WR Antoine Wesley
Wesley has length, speed and production. Plus, he was coached by Kingsbury and was his No. 1 receiver with 88 catches for more than 1,400 yards. He will come in and already know the offense.
Round 6, pick 1: Stanford LB Bobby Okereke
Arizona met with Okereke at the Senior Bowl. He was a three-year starter at Stanford and was received honorable mention for All Pac-12 honors twice. He is 6-1, 239 pounds and athletic. He ran the 40 in 4.58 seconds, had a vertical leap of 33.5 inches, a broad jump of 10-2 and a three-cone of 7.25 seconds.
He could be a special teams contributor immediately and would be a good depth guy off the bench because of his ability to find the football and play smart.
Round 6, pick 6: Washburn CB Corey Ballentine
A Cardinals draft would not be complete without a small-school player, considering they have selected 10 since 2013 under Steve Keim and at least one every draft. Arizona spoke with Ballentine at the Senior Bowl. He had three interceptions, two forced fumbles and 50 tackles in 2018. However, he is a stud on special teams and will remind many of Justin Bethel. Ballentine blocked three kicks in 2018. He handled return duties as well.
Round 7, pick 34: South Carolina OL Zack Bailey
Bailey is another player the Cardinals have worked out. He can play all over the line and started at three positions. He suffered a broken leg in his college finale so he did not participate in any running or agility drills in the pre-draft process.
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