The NFL Draft is tonight and, before the madness begins for real, Draft Wire managing editor Luke Easterling has one final mock draft for us to digest and ponder. In this mock of the first round that includes trades, he has the Arizona Cardinals trading out of the No. 8 pick in the draft.
He has the Atlanta Falcons moving up to select Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown. The Cardinals move down eight spots to No. 16 overall and pick up the Falcons’ second-round pick, No. 47 overall.
The Cardinals use the 16th pick to select South Carolina defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw.
I’m betting if the Falcons knew they could have stayed here and still landed Kinlaw, they wouldn’t have moved up for Brown. But that’s not how this works, and the Cardinals reap the benefits by landing Kinlaw and adding an extra pick in the process.
Kinlaw was dominant for the Gamecocks against SEC competition, and did the same at the Senior Bowl before be bowed out with a minor injury. At 6-5, 315 pounds, Kinlaw has the size and skills to line up anywhere in any scheme along the defensive line.
Kinlaw’s story of overcoming adversity is harrowing and inspiring, and he brings a competitive mentality to every snap that all 32 teams should want on their defense. He’s a steal outside the top 15, and a huge addition at a position of need for the Cards.
Kinlaw does definitely fill a defensive need and people fell in love with him at the Senior Bowl. He offers much more pass-rushing upside than Derrick Brown, but the Cardinals would lose out on top receiver prospects and offensive line prospects by moving back.
The Cardinals are reportedly interested in trading back and several scenarios seem plausible. The projected trade with the Falcons is one of them.
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