With so much buzz around the Arizona Cardinals and Oklahoma quarterback Prospect Kyler Murray, it is reasonable to wonder what a draft for the Cardinals would look like with him as the first pick overall.
Here is a mock draft simulation I ran with FanSpeak’s On the Clock, taking Murray No. 1. The Cardinals end up with three Oklahoma players.
Round 1, pick 1: Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray
This pick is what most around the NFL believe will happen, according to recent reports. It would require the Cardinals move Josh Rosen, which could net them more picks. The question is how much better Murray is going to be than Rosen, who has been called a franchise quarterback my many in the organization.
Round 2, pick 1: Oklahoma WR Marquise Brown
Receiver is a position of need and this would pair Murray with Brown, which worked rather well in college. He is also a different style of receiver than the Cardinals currently have on the roster. He is so much of an upgrade over J.J. Nelson.
Round 3, pick 9: Wisconsin OT David Edwards
Looking to target the offensive line, the Cardinals trade down from the first pick of the round to the ninth pick. The Patriots give up the 30th pick in the round as well. With the pick, they land Wisconsin tackle David Edwards. He had to face the likes of Nick Bosa and was up to the task.
Round 3, pick 22: Houston CB Isaiah Johnson
Wanting to add an athletic cornerback, there were slim pickings in the third round. However, Johnson was available and his name crept up the list of best available players. The Cardinals move up from No. 30 to No. 22 and give up their fifth-round pick to select Johnson, giving them four players in the top 100.
Round 4, pick 1: Missouri TE Kendall Blanton
Blanton has the ability to catch and is athletic enough to block. And a tight end was a position of need that had not been addressed yet.
Round 6-7
Round 6, pick 1: Texas Tech WR Antoine Wesley
Kliff Kinsgbury coached him at Texas Tech. He is long and was productive. He also will come in knowing the offense. They have added length and speed to the receiver room in this draft.
Round 6, pick 6: Miami G Venzell Boulware
Round 6, pick 34: Oklahoma G Dru Samia
Late in the draft, it is about picking up guys who could stick and fill a need. Samia becomes the third Oklahoma player drafted.
Round 7, pick 1: James Madison CB Jimmy Moreland
Steve Keim loves super athletic defensive backs with upside. The Cardinals trade their three remaining seventh-round picks to move up to the first pick in the round to take the small-schooler in Moreland.
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