With the first week of free agency in the books, check out this seven-round mock draft simulation for the Cardinals.
The first week of NFL free agency is winding down to the weekend, which means it is time for a mock draft. With the announcement of compensatory picks, we know what selections the Arizona Cardinals have.
So this is a seven-round mock draft simulation Saturday.
They took care of the offensive line, defensive line, backup quarterback, receiver, the defensive edge and linebacker in free agency.
What can they do now in the draft?
Using Pro Football Network’s draft simulation, here is how this seven-round simulation went down.
When the 16th pick in the first round rolled around, the Cardinals got an offer from Seattle for the No. 18 pick and No. 50 pick (a second-rounder) to move up two slots, and getting the Cardinals’ third-round pick (No. 78). The Seahawks wanted Texas receiver Matthew Golden. Staying with the 16th pick, the selection would have been Alabama guard Tyler Booker, but there were other players I liked, so they made the trade. Booker was taken 17th overall.
Round 1 (No. 18 overall): Oregon DT Derrick Harmon
With no Booker, there was the possibility of Georgia EDGE Jalon Walker, Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr. and Harmon. Walker might be a little small for what the Cardinals prefer at outside linebacker, and a first-round pass rusher might not get to play much with the signing of Josh Sweat, the re-signing of Baron Browning and the return of BJ Ojulari.
And while the Cardinals have bolstered the defensive line, Harmon could play rotationally, giving them a very solid seven players.
Round 2 (No. 47 overall): UCLA LB Carson Schwesinger
The Cardinals addressed linebacker with Akeem Davis-Gaither and Mykal Walker, and Mack Wilson returns. But Schwesinger would be able to step in immediately and start. He has size (6-2, 242 lbs), athleticism (39.5-inch vertical) and production — 136 total tackles, 90 solo tackles (which led the Big Ten), four sacks and two interceptions.
No. 50 pick traded
The Cleveland Browns wanted to draft defensive tackle Tyliek Williams. They offered the No. 67 pick (in the third round) and the No. 104 pick (round 4) to move up to No. 50. The Cardinals, no longer with a third-round pick after the trade with Seattle, made the move.
Round 3 (No. 67 overall): Purdue OL Marcus Mbow
Mbow played right tackle in 2024 but played right guard before that. And with 32-inch arms, he seems fitted for guard. He could compete with Isaiah Adam immediately for the starting right guard job, as there is no clear starter there right now.
Round 4 (No. 104 overall): Maryland WR Tai Felton
Felton is a burner. He is 6-foot-1 and 183 pounds. He ran the 40 in 4.37 seconds at the combine. He improved his production every year in college, finishing 2024 with 96 catches for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns.
Round 4 (No. 115 overall): Miami EDGE Tyler Baron
Baron is the size the Cardinals like from the edge (6-foot-4, 258 lbs) and is athletic (4.62-second 40, 121-inch broad jump, 35.5-inch vertical leap). He played four seasons at Tennessee before transferring to Miami last season. He had 5.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss last season after six sacks and 11 tackles for loss in 2023.
Round 5 (No. 152 overall): Alabama S Malachi Moore
Moore is a true deep center field coverage safety like they wanted when they drafted Deionte Thompson out of Alabama in the fifth round in 2019.
Round 7 (No. 225 overall): Georgia RB Trevor Etienne
The Cardinals don’t need a running back but Etienne is undervalued in a very deep running back class. He isn’t big but is big enough. He is fast (4.42-second 40) and explosive, and he can do more than just run the football. He can catch the ball and could threaten Emari Demercado for the third-down role.
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