We have hit the official beginning of mock draft season with the Super Bowl approaching and the college all-star games getting set to occur. Plus, all the big draft analysts are beginning to make projections for the 2024 NFL draft.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper released a new mock draft and it has good news for the Arizona Cardinals.
The Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots all select quarterbacks with the first three selections, meaning the Cardinals, who pick fourth overall, get to pick the player most fans covet.
They land a top receiver and also a tackle in the first round.
Pick No. 4: Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
Landing Harrison is the dream scenario. It is one of the team’s greatest needs and they land one of the most exciting prospects at the position in years.
Harrison is one of the best receiver prospects of the past decade, a 6-foot-4 speedster who can run every route and break tackles after the catch. In Arizona, where Marquise Brown is a free agent, he could step into the No. 1 role as a rookie. He has all the tools to win Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2024. The Cardinals also own the Texans’ first-rounder in this draft, thanks to last year’s trade during Round 1, and they could look to the defense or offensive line there.
The Cardinals could mess around and trade back like in 2023, and they still could land a top-tier receiver prospect. But Cardinals fans have been looking at Harrison as the prize for a struggling season.
Pick No. 27: Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton
You could argue the Cardinals should use the remaining five picks they have in the first three rounds all on defensive players. However, the ACL tear left tackle D.J. Humphries makes tackle somewhat of a priority.
Paris Johnson, Arizona’s first-round pick last year, played every snap at right tackle but should be great on the left side.
Guyton played right tackle for the Sooners.
Guyton, however, spent almost all of his time at right tackle for the Sooners; he allowed zero sacks in 2023.
As I wrote in my scouting report on Guyton, NFL teams will covet his physical tools, even though he started just 15 games in college. I could also see the Cardinals take a cornerback here, with Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo) and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (Missouri) the best available in my rankings.
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