Quarterbacks and other top-10 prospects have dominated this year’s draft discussions, overshadowing the rest of this year’s class. The Cardinals hold pick No. 16 and are considering multiple paths, including one that involves a highly coveted pass catcher.
Arizona is interested in cornerbacks Patrick Surtain II and Jaycee Horn, per ProFootballNetwork.com’s Tony Pauline, who adds the team is also eyeing Jaylen Waddle. However, it is quite possible all three of these players will be gone by the time the Cardinals go on the clock. This would point the Steve Keim-run team to a trade-up scenario.
The Cards gave A.J. Green a one-year, $6MM deal to see if he can rediscover his pre-2019 form. They have Christian Kirk, but he is going into a contract year and has not been especially consistent as a pro. Larry Fitzgerald remains unsigned and is expected to retire after 17 seasons. Waddle would certainly make for a flashy DeAndre Hopkins complementary piece, but the Cards would almost certainly have to trade up to land him.
Patrick Peterson defected to the Vikings in free agency, and although Arizona agreed to terms with Malcolm Butler, he is going into his age-31 season. The Cardinals have Byron Murphy signed through 2022 but could use additional help at corner. Surtain has been viewed as a player likely to go off the board in the top half of the first round for months, while Horn has made a late climb. However, Todd McShay’s latest ESPN.com mock has the South Carolina corner falling to the Cards at 16.
The team is believed to view linebacker Zaven Collins as a potential contingency plan, according to Pauline. A Tulsa product, Collins has a versatile skill set that could be utilized as a pass rusher or pure linebacker. The Cards going in this direction would be interesting, given Haason Reddick‘s struggles in a hybrid role for most of his Arizona tenure and the team’s selection of versatile ‘backer Isaiah Simmons in last year’s first round.
i hope they dont take Waddle over Smith if both are there. (though id probably take a defensive player with that pick)
hold up im blind, disregard
I’ve had them penciled in trading up to 10 with Dallas for Waddle or Surtain
Whoever they take Keim will want to play them out of position and it will be another wasted pick by him.
Take a CB you should be able to get either Surtain, Horn or Farley.
Then in the second round hope and pray some offensive line help falls to you. Someone like Wyatt Davis, Alex Leatherwood, Liam Eichenberg, Creed Humphrey or Jalen Mayfield.
These two spots are the weak areas for the cards. You need to replace Patrick Peterson and get protection for Kyler Murray.
None of top WR will be at 16 but it’s a deel WR draft. Toney WR Florida might be there but if they want a top tier, they need to trade up to 7 with Detroit who is looking to move down. Waddle, Pitts, Smith one of those three will be at 7. Any of the three would be a huge improvement over the current set of WR.