It’s that time of year where I participate in a mock draft game (https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/americanfootball/gm-mock-2025-drafttr-den-t2369.html). The structure is as you know it from the real one with 32 people being the general manager of the 32 teams. I was obviously again the Cardinals. Last year I was asked to write posts about each selection instead of all of it in one long post, so I will do that again. I will also copy each one into this original post, so you can also read it as a forthgoing story, if you prefer that.
A big part of the draft is obviously about filling holes, and in my opinion, the defense by far needs the most upgrades. Sure, I would like to find an offensive lineman or two, but if I have an offensive- and a defensive players ranked similarly at a selection, I will go with the defensive one
It’s only about a week ago that I posted my top five rankings here, but there have already been some changes, so I will note it again. Since before Christmas, Shemar Stewart has been my #1 ranked (I have not included Mason Graham and Abdul Carter because why would I? They will be long gone anyway), because of his enormous potential. I am probably in the minority, but I think that Ossenfort has done a fine job in raising the floor level of the team, so now it is time to add superstars. The players that make the small difference between a win and a loss. Stewart could be that guy. However, I have started to think that you only draft him if you have a lot of trust in your defensive line-coach, and Winston DeLattiboudere was obviously just hired. Instead, I think that more “proven” players are the way to go, which is why I have moved Mykel Williams and Kenneth Grant above Stewart on the Cards board. Picking them is the right thing to do, so to speak, even though Stewart might have the biggest potential of any player in the entire draft.
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Round 1
I had five players I would draft at #16, but both Grant and CB Will Johnson were gone. Therefore, the options were:
Edge rusher Mykel Williams, Georgia
To understand Williams, you need to understand that he played both hurt and out of position last season. For whatever reason, he spent a good amount of time in a 4i-role, which he can certainly do, but it doesn’t exploit his strengths to the fullest. I think he was used there partly because he is a great run defender, and partly because Georgia has 5-star players all over the defensive line, so to get them all on the field they had to move some players around. But make no mistake: Williams has the potential of a franchise changing player. He was awesome for long stretches of the 2023 campaign.
Edge rusher Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
Well, I already covered him in the beginning. Stewart has the ceiling of an All Pro, but there is no way to argue against the fact that he hasn’t produced much stats-wise yet. His tape shows that he affects the game a lot, though, and his potential makes him a very attractive option.
Edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
I have no idea why so many are singing Mike Green’s praise over Ezeiruaku. I mean, I understand that fans mostly follow the professional analysts (that is not a critic, by the way), and fortunately, those analysts are starting to catch up to Ezeiruaku. The point is that they are basically the same players (almost same size, same production, same playing style, same workout numbers), but Ezeiruaku have done it through multiple years at a higher level, and he has longer arms and bigger hands. I don’t know. It is very confusing to me. The only reason I could be convinced to lean toward Green is that he might be more of a Gannon-player as he plays slighter more aggressively and violent than Ezeiruaku.
With the #16 pick, the Arizona Cardinals select
Mykel Williams, edge rusher, Georgia
The Broncos offered #20, #85 (third round) and #208 (sixth round), and I did consider it. In the end I chose to go with the #1 ranked player, though.
I explained it in another post, so bear with me if you have already read it, but the Cardinals use different types of edge rushers in their base-defense and nickel-defense. In base-defense, most likely Darius Robinson and Josh Sweat will occupy the two edges, but in nickel they will bring in one more, as Robinson slides a little inside. As a rookie, Williams can back up Sweat in base-defense and play opposite him in nickel.
Last season was an embarrassment pass rush-wise, and they need to add multiple players to improve it. Signing Josh Sweat was a great start, but he is a very good #2 and should not be a team’s best edge rusher. Darius Robinson and B.J. Ojulari could potentially become superstars, but I would not count on that as the Cards’ only hope. Mykel Williams have the making of a stud, and having an edge rush-unit consisting of Sweat, Ojulari, Browning, Williams, and Robinson mixed in on certain downs has a lot of promises.
By the way, later the Bengals' GM told me that he would have taken Williams at #17, while Seahawks would have taken Stewart at #18 (they took him at #20 after trading with the Broncos). Thus, it was very fortunate that I did not sell my pick.
Round 2
This was an easy pick for me, and I traded up to make it. I tried to talk to some different teams, and in the end, I made a deal with Dallas. They got mine #47 and I got their #44. Further we swopped pick in the fifth round, so they got mine #152, while I moved down to their #171 spot.
I think that the prize was a little steep, but on the other hand I did not have to lose any picks, and I got the guy I wanted.
Oh, and it turns out that the Falcons at #46 had two trade offers, but both buyers withdraw their offer when I moved up for Jackson, so I would not have gotten him with my original pick.
My options, when I didn’t know that the trade would happen:
Alfred Collins, defensive tackle, Texas
In January I noted in my rankings that DT Tyleik Williams from Ohio State was the best scheme fit of all players in this draft, but I was wrong, because Collins is at least as good, if not better. As I wrote in my mock draft last year, with the Cards’ second first-round pick I considered drafting DT T’Vondre Sweat from Texas, and Collins actually replaced Sweat in that specific role in Texas’ defense. He is a monstrous nose tackle who also has some pass rush to his game. However, like with Sweat last year, it is difficult for me to justify taking a nose tackle in the first two rounds considering what they do in Gannon’s scheme (Kenneth Grant would be the exception because of his wild potential).
Aireontae Ersery, offensive tackle, Minnesota
After multiple years in Minnesota’s outside zone system, I think he would be a good fit at guard, with the option of moving him to tackle if need be.
Trey Amos, cornerback, Ole Miss
He is a Gannon-CB with his size, aggressive mentality, first-class press-man abilities, and good zone coverage. However, you also need to develop the young guys you drafted last year. It doesn’t mean I will definitely not draft a CB later, but not this early (unless it is an absolute stud).
With the #44 pick the Arizona Cardinals select
Donovan Jackson, offensive guard, Ohio State
When the first round ended, and Jackson was still on the board, I started considering option to get him. He is the #23 ranked on the overall board, but #6 on the Cards board. I would not be shocked if Ossenfort selected him at #16, and I could easily see him being the pick if they traded down.
We all know the history with Jackson, Paris Johnson and Justin Frye, and I think it could be a great left side for many years. Jackson fit in pretty much any offensive line-scheme, so that is also not a problem. Actually, there is no such thing as a safe draft pick, but it’s hard to see this go wrong.
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Round 3
As my pick came closer, the Bears contacted me about buying #78. I wanted to sell because I had several targets, and the Bears were at #82, so I would still get one I like. However, the Bears didn’t have many picks after trading earlier, and they did not want to part way with their 5th rounder, so they could only offer me #240 (7th). I thought about it and decided to accept. It was too little, but on the other hand it was still more than nothing. Maybe I can use the pick as ammunition later, if there is someone I want to trade up for, and if not, well, there is no such thing as a worthless draft pick. Maybe I can select a future Hall of Famer.
My targets both before and after the trade were:
Denzel Burke, cornerback, Ohio State
He was awesome in 2023 – surefire first-round pick – but then had a bad year in 2024. At times he looked undraftable, but most often he just looked fine. However, we have seen the potential, and I believe in Gannon’s abilities with cornerbacks.
Kyle Williams, wide receiver, Washington State
Williams caught my eye at the Senior Bowl where he won almost all his one-on-one reps. That made me look more into it, and he has also played very well at Washington State. I especially like his acceleration, and I think Cards need more of a speed element at WR. At the Senior Bowl, Williams was measured with the highest top speed of any participants (21.36 mph).
Quincy Riley, cornerback, Louisville
Another player that got my attention at the Senior Bowl. I think he was the best CB there. He excels in man coverage, which is interesting because Nick Rallis called one of the highest amounts of cover 0-defenses (pure man coverage with no deep defender) in the NFL. Check this out:
Lowest passer rating allowed in single coverage in FBS since 2014:
1 – Sauce Gardner – 15.2
2 – Quincy Riley – 29.5
3 – Someone – 44.6
Demetrius Knight, linebacker, South Carolina
I like Knight a lot, and I think he would be a good replacement for Kyzir White.
Josaiah Stewart, edge rusher, Michigan
Yes, I understand that it would be a little much to go edge rusher with two of the first three selections, but I am a huge fan of Stewart. Maybe my favorite player in the entire draft. He is too small, but he plays so hard and aggressively, and he does get results from it. I believe he has one of the highest pass rush win rates against true pass sets (no screen passes, rollouts and play action passes). I would be very excited with him as the pass rushing SAM in nickel-defense.
With the #82 pick the Arizona Cardinals select
Deone Walker, nose tackle, Kentucky
I wanted Grant in the first round, and when I did not get him, I knew I had to find the right spot for a NT somewhere, because I badly want them to upgrade the defensive line. Getting Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones back, and signing Dalvin Tomlinson, will likely make it better – even after losing Roy Lopez – but I want more.
However, it needs to be a certain type of DT, so I had to position myself to where it made sense. I thought about trading far up to target Alfred Collins, who I considered with my second-round pick, but the prize would have been too high. Joshua Farmer and Jordan Phillips would be more of what they already have, and Shemar Turner is a bad scheme fit. So, should it only be a later round pick? I was pretty much out of obvious options.
So I decided to go with a major boom-or-bust prospect in Walker. I said from the start that I would target potential superstars in the draft, and Walker could potentially be that. I think that he is an early day three guy, but I figured that I would have to take him with this pick because of the potential he brings. Someone would have taken a chance on him. He is a mammoth human being, but he also has the movement skills of a much smaller player. He could be great in their one-and-a-half gap scheme as he showed with some of his reps at the Senior Bowl where there were flashes of dominance. He brings something to the defensive line that they don’t currently have in any other player.
He had a down year, both on video and statistically, but it was later revealed that he played with a broken back. That sounds difficult to do, but as far as I know, he is supposed to heal up fine.
His biggest problem is that his stamina is simply not good enough. He disappears from games. But that is correctable, plus it should help him a lot to be part of a bigger rotation. There are also some technique issues, but I put my hope in the new defensive line-coach to fix that.
I think he has a very high ceiling, but he could probably also completely flame out.
On day three (fourth round through the rest) the boards are so individual that I would not be surprised if some of my targets were still available the next time I pick.
A big part of the draft is obviously about filling holes, and in my opinion, the defense by far needs the most upgrades. Sure, I would like to find an offensive lineman or two, but if I have an offensive- and a defensive players ranked similarly at a selection, I will go with the defensive one
It’s only about a week ago that I posted my top five rankings here, but there have already been some changes, so I will note it again. Since before Christmas, Shemar Stewart has been my #1 ranked (I have not included Mason Graham and Abdul Carter because why would I? They will be long gone anyway), because of his enormous potential. I am probably in the minority, but I think that Ossenfort has done a fine job in raising the floor level of the team, so now it is time to add superstars. The players that make the small difference between a win and a loss. Stewart could be that guy. However, I have started to think that you only draft him if you have a lot of trust in your defensive line-coach, and Winston DeLattiboudere was obviously just hired. Instead, I think that more “proven” players are the way to go, which is why I have moved Mykel Williams and Kenneth Grant above Stewart on the Cards board. Picking them is the right thing to do, so to speak, even though Stewart might have the biggest potential of any player in the entire draft.
------------------------------------------
Round 1
I had five players I would draft at #16, but both Grant and CB Will Johnson were gone. Therefore, the options were:
Edge rusher Mykel Williams, Georgia
To understand Williams, you need to understand that he played both hurt and out of position last season. For whatever reason, he spent a good amount of time in a 4i-role, which he can certainly do, but it doesn’t exploit his strengths to the fullest. I think he was used there partly because he is a great run defender, and partly because Georgia has 5-star players all over the defensive line, so to get them all on the field they had to move some players around. But make no mistake: Williams has the potential of a franchise changing player. He was awesome for long stretches of the 2023 campaign.
Edge rusher Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
Well, I already covered him in the beginning. Stewart has the ceiling of an All Pro, but there is no way to argue against the fact that he hasn’t produced much stats-wise yet. His tape shows that he affects the game a lot, though, and his potential makes him a very attractive option.
Edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
I have no idea why so many are singing Mike Green’s praise over Ezeiruaku. I mean, I understand that fans mostly follow the professional analysts (that is not a critic, by the way), and fortunately, those analysts are starting to catch up to Ezeiruaku. The point is that they are basically the same players (almost same size, same production, same playing style, same workout numbers), but Ezeiruaku have done it through multiple years at a higher level, and he has longer arms and bigger hands. I don’t know. It is very confusing to me. The only reason I could be convinced to lean toward Green is that he might be more of a Gannon-player as he plays slighter more aggressively and violent than Ezeiruaku.
With the #16 pick, the Arizona Cardinals select
Mykel Williams, edge rusher, Georgia
The Broncos offered #20, #85 (third round) and #208 (sixth round), and I did consider it. In the end I chose to go with the #1 ranked player, though.
I explained it in another post, so bear with me if you have already read it, but the Cardinals use different types of edge rushers in their base-defense and nickel-defense. In base-defense, most likely Darius Robinson and Josh Sweat will occupy the two edges, but in nickel they will bring in one more, as Robinson slides a little inside. As a rookie, Williams can back up Sweat in base-defense and play opposite him in nickel.
Last season was an embarrassment pass rush-wise, and they need to add multiple players to improve it. Signing Josh Sweat was a great start, but he is a very good #2 and should not be a team’s best edge rusher. Darius Robinson and B.J. Ojulari could potentially become superstars, but I would not count on that as the Cards’ only hope. Mykel Williams have the making of a stud, and having an edge rush-unit consisting of Sweat, Ojulari, Browning, Williams, and Robinson mixed in on certain downs has a lot of promises.
By the way, later the Bengals' GM told me that he would have taken Williams at #17, while Seahawks would have taken Stewart at #18 (they took him at #20 after trading with the Broncos). Thus, it was very fortunate that I did not sell my pick.
Round 2
This was an easy pick for me, and I traded up to make it. I tried to talk to some different teams, and in the end, I made a deal with Dallas. They got mine #47 and I got their #44. Further we swopped pick in the fifth round, so they got mine #152, while I moved down to their #171 spot.
I think that the prize was a little steep, but on the other hand I did not have to lose any picks, and I got the guy I wanted.
Oh, and it turns out that the Falcons at #46 had two trade offers, but both buyers withdraw their offer when I moved up for Jackson, so I would not have gotten him with my original pick.
My options, when I didn’t know that the trade would happen:
Alfred Collins, defensive tackle, Texas
In January I noted in my rankings that DT Tyleik Williams from Ohio State was the best scheme fit of all players in this draft, but I was wrong, because Collins is at least as good, if not better. As I wrote in my mock draft last year, with the Cards’ second first-round pick I considered drafting DT T’Vondre Sweat from Texas, and Collins actually replaced Sweat in that specific role in Texas’ defense. He is a monstrous nose tackle who also has some pass rush to his game. However, like with Sweat last year, it is difficult for me to justify taking a nose tackle in the first two rounds considering what they do in Gannon’s scheme (Kenneth Grant would be the exception because of his wild potential).
Aireontae Ersery, offensive tackle, Minnesota
After multiple years in Minnesota’s outside zone system, I think he would be a good fit at guard, with the option of moving him to tackle if need be.
Trey Amos, cornerback, Ole Miss
He is a Gannon-CB with his size, aggressive mentality, first-class press-man abilities, and good zone coverage. However, you also need to develop the young guys you drafted last year. It doesn’t mean I will definitely not draft a CB later, but not this early (unless it is an absolute stud).
With the #44 pick the Arizona Cardinals select
Donovan Jackson, offensive guard, Ohio State
When the first round ended, and Jackson was still on the board, I started considering option to get him. He is the #23 ranked on the overall board, but #6 on the Cards board. I would not be shocked if Ossenfort selected him at #16, and I could easily see him being the pick if they traded down.
We all know the history with Jackson, Paris Johnson and Justin Frye, and I think it could be a great left side for many years. Jackson fit in pretty much any offensive line-scheme, so that is also not a problem. Actually, there is no such thing as a safe draft pick, but it’s hard to see this go wrong.
------------------------------
Round 3
As my pick came closer, the Bears contacted me about buying #78. I wanted to sell because I had several targets, and the Bears were at #82, so I would still get one I like. However, the Bears didn’t have many picks after trading earlier, and they did not want to part way with their 5th rounder, so they could only offer me #240 (7th). I thought about it and decided to accept. It was too little, but on the other hand it was still more than nothing. Maybe I can use the pick as ammunition later, if there is someone I want to trade up for, and if not, well, there is no such thing as a worthless draft pick. Maybe I can select a future Hall of Famer.
My targets both before and after the trade were:
Denzel Burke, cornerback, Ohio State
He was awesome in 2023 – surefire first-round pick – but then had a bad year in 2024. At times he looked undraftable, but most often he just looked fine. However, we have seen the potential, and I believe in Gannon’s abilities with cornerbacks.
Kyle Williams, wide receiver, Washington State
Williams caught my eye at the Senior Bowl where he won almost all his one-on-one reps. That made me look more into it, and he has also played very well at Washington State. I especially like his acceleration, and I think Cards need more of a speed element at WR. At the Senior Bowl, Williams was measured with the highest top speed of any participants (21.36 mph).
Quincy Riley, cornerback, Louisville
Another player that got my attention at the Senior Bowl. I think he was the best CB there. He excels in man coverage, which is interesting because Nick Rallis called one of the highest amounts of cover 0-defenses (pure man coverage with no deep defender) in the NFL. Check this out:
Lowest passer rating allowed in single coverage in FBS since 2014:
1 – Sauce Gardner – 15.2
2 – Quincy Riley – 29.5
3 – Someone – 44.6
Demetrius Knight, linebacker, South Carolina
I like Knight a lot, and I think he would be a good replacement for Kyzir White.
Josaiah Stewart, edge rusher, Michigan
Yes, I understand that it would be a little much to go edge rusher with two of the first three selections, but I am a huge fan of Stewart. Maybe my favorite player in the entire draft. He is too small, but he plays so hard and aggressively, and he does get results from it. I believe he has one of the highest pass rush win rates against true pass sets (no screen passes, rollouts and play action passes). I would be very excited with him as the pass rushing SAM in nickel-defense.
With the #82 pick the Arizona Cardinals select
Deone Walker, nose tackle, Kentucky
I wanted Grant in the first round, and when I did not get him, I knew I had to find the right spot for a NT somewhere, because I badly want them to upgrade the defensive line. Getting Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones back, and signing Dalvin Tomlinson, will likely make it better – even after losing Roy Lopez – but I want more.
However, it needs to be a certain type of DT, so I had to position myself to where it made sense. I thought about trading far up to target Alfred Collins, who I considered with my second-round pick, but the prize would have been too high. Joshua Farmer and Jordan Phillips would be more of what they already have, and Shemar Turner is a bad scheme fit. So, should it only be a later round pick? I was pretty much out of obvious options.
So I decided to go with a major boom-or-bust prospect in Walker. I said from the start that I would target potential superstars in the draft, and Walker could potentially be that. I think that he is an early day three guy, but I figured that I would have to take him with this pick because of the potential he brings. Someone would have taken a chance on him. He is a mammoth human being, but he also has the movement skills of a much smaller player. He could be great in their one-and-a-half gap scheme as he showed with some of his reps at the Senior Bowl where there were flashes of dominance. He brings something to the defensive line that they don’t currently have in any other player.
He had a down year, both on video and statistically, but it was later revealed that he played with a broken back. That sounds difficult to do, but as far as I know, he is supposed to heal up fine.
His biggest problem is that his stamina is simply not good enough. He disappears from games. But that is correctable, plus it should help him a lot to be part of a bigger rotation. There are also some technique issues, but I put my hope in the new defensive line-coach to fix that.
I think he has a very high ceiling, but he could probably also completely flame out.
On day three (fourth round through the rest) the boards are so individual that I would not be surprised if some of my targets were still available the next time I pick.
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