As the actual NFL draft approaches, there continue to be mock drafts. Some project what the writer believes will happen. Others are what should happen.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper published a three-round mock draft that is meant to give each team an A grade for the draft were it to fall this way. For the Arizona Cardinals, they would get an A if they went with all offensive players in their first three picks.
His grade-A picks are as follows:
Round 1: Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray
Round 2: Oklahoma OT Cody Ford
Round 3: Georgia WR Riley Ridley
The selection of Murray would mean a trade of Josh Rosen, which would mean the Cardinals would also have another selection as well.
The argument for Murray has been made and enough people have said that he will be the pick that it probably doesn’t matter whether or not it makes the most sense. If he is going to go No. 1, then the Cardinals need to add weapons to make him successful.
Adding his left tackle in college is a start. However, Ford ideally doesn’t play in 2019 because they have starters already at both tackle positions. Both D.J. Humphries and Marcus Gilbert come with an injury history but any offensive line pick likely is a pick looking toward 2020.
Adding Ridley in the third is a must. Based on current needs, for the Cardinals to get an A in the draft, they almost have to take a receiver in the first three rounds.
Of course, they went all offense except for one pick in the draft a year ago and both the offense and defense got worse, so taking all offensive players is certainly no silver bullet to improvement.
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