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We are just over a month away from the 2025 NFL draft and the Arizona Cardinals have not made any moves that would significantly change their plan for it. They added an offensive lineman who could come of the bench or maybe compete for a starting job and a cornerback that has played mostly special teams.
But it is another mock draft Saturday, which means I have a new seven-round simulation of the draft for the Cardinals using Pro Football Network's mock draft simulator.
My main philosophy was to, in the first two rounds, focus on premium positions from bigger programs, which is what the Cardinals have done under general manager Monti Ossenfort.
There are trades as well. Here is what I ended up with.
The Denver Broncos were antsy to get a receiver, so they traded up from the 20th pick to No. 16 and the Cardinals also got their second-round pick (No. 51 overall). The Broncos took Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan. With pass rushers, offensive linemen and defensive tackles available, I was willing to drop back four spots.
There are a lot of opinions about Pearce as a prospect, but he has the size and length at 6-foot-4 with almost 33-inch arms. He is athletic (4.47-second 40) and he was productive in college. He had 17.5 sacks over the last two seasons and 28 tackles for loss. He led the SEC with 10 sacks in 2023.
Many have projected him to be the Cardinals' pick at No. 16 in the first round. If he is on the board at No. 47, this is easy. He has massive size and will immediately impact the run game. The belief is that he has pass-rushing upside, but in the second round, the Cardinals don't need to bank on him being a very good pass rusher. He is big, athletic and played a premier program.
In the second round, the Cardinals could get a guard and not feel bad. In the first round, Ossenfort is probably looking more at tackle, but the athleticism of Ratledge (4.97-second 40 at 6-foot-6 and 308 points), plus coming from a Georgia program that produces good NFL players, Cardinals fans will feel good.
He isn't a burner, but he moves really well. He has size, he has good hands, he runs great routes and will be productive.
He is 6-foot-2 and 224 pounds with a long 80-inch wingspan with athleticism. He is coming back from a foot injury, but getting an athletic linebacker who is a strong tackler on Day 3 is solid.
Here I admittedly had my eye on a particular cornerback but did not want to reach for him at No. 152 overall. So I traded back to the sixth round, giving the Buffalo Bills No. 152 for No. 177 and a seventh-round pick in 2026.
Williams has adequate length at 6 feet tall and weighs 199 pounds with adequate speed (4.50-second 40). But what he does is make plays on the football. He led the nation with seven interceptions last season. He scored three defensive touchdowns for Cal over the last two seasons and picked off 12 over his final three seasons, which included on at UNLV.
Allen is 6 feet tall and 204 pounds and was very good in the passing game for Syracuse. He was a workhorse, with over 200 carries over the last two seasons, leading the ACC in touches in 2023. He led the conference with 16 rushing touchdowns and 20 total touchdowns. Last season, he had 64 receptions and rushed for over 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons. He would compete with Emari Demercado for the third-down role.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL mock draft: Arizona Cardinals make trades in 7-round projections
Continue reading...
But it is another mock draft Saturday, which means I have a new seven-round simulation of the draft for the Cardinals using Pro Football Network's mock draft simulator.
My main philosophy was to, in the first two rounds, focus on premium positions from bigger programs, which is what the Cardinals have done under general manager Monti Ossenfort.
There are trades as well. Here is what I ended up with.
Round 1 trade
The Denver Broncos were antsy to get a receiver, so they traded up from the 20th pick to No. 16 and the Cardinals also got their second-round pick (No. 51 overall). The Broncos took Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan. With pass rushers, offensive linemen and defensive tackles available, I was willing to drop back four spots.
Round 1 (No. 20 overall): Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr.
There are a lot of opinions about Pearce as a prospect, but he has the size and length at 6-foot-4 with almost 33-inch arms. He is athletic (4.47-second 40) and he was productive in college. He had 17.5 sacks over the last two seasons and 28 tackles for loss. He led the SEC with 10 sacks in 2023.
Round 2 (No. 47 overall): Michigan DT Kenneth Grant
Many have projected him to be the Cardinals' pick at No. 16 in the first round. If he is on the board at No. 47, this is easy. He has massive size and will immediately impact the run game. The belief is that he has pass-rushing upside, but in the second round, the Cardinals don't need to bank on him being a very good pass rusher. He is big, athletic and played a premier program.
Round 2 (No. 51 overall): Georgia G Tate Ratledge
In the second round, the Cardinals could get a guard and not feel bad. In the first round, Ossenfort is probably looking more at tackle, but the athleticism of Ratledge (4.97-second 40 at 6-foot-6 and 308 points), plus coming from a Georgia program that produces good NFL players, Cardinals fans will feel good.
Round 3 (No. 78 overall): TCU WR Jach Bech
He isn't a burner, but he moves really well. He has size, he has good hands, he runs great routes and will be productive.
Round 4 (No. 115 overall): Georgia LB Smael Mondon Jr.
He is 6-foot-2 and 224 pounds with a long 80-inch wingspan with athleticism. He is coming back from a foot injury, but getting an athletic linebacker who is a strong tackler on Day 3 is solid.
Round 5 trade
Here I admittedly had my eye on a particular cornerback but did not want to reach for him at No. 152 overall. So I traded back to the sixth round, giving the Buffalo Bills No. 152 for No. 177 and a seventh-round pick in 2026.
Round 6 (No. 177 overall): Cal CB Nohl Williams
Williams has adequate length at 6 feet tall and weighs 199 pounds with adequate speed (4.50-second 40). But what he does is make plays on the football. He led the nation with seven interceptions last season. He scored three defensive touchdowns for Cal over the last two seasons and picked off 12 over his final three seasons, which included on at UNLV.
Round 7 (No. 225 overall): Syracuse RB LeQuint Allen
Allen is 6 feet tall and 204 pounds and was very good in the passing game for Syracuse. He was a workhorse, with over 200 carries over the last two seasons, leading the ACC in touches in 2023. He led the conference with 16 rushing touchdowns and 20 total touchdowns. Last season, he had 64 receptions and rushed for over 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons. He would compete with Emari Demercado for the third-down role.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL mock draft: Arizona Cardinals make trades in 7-round projections
Continue reading...
