Arizona Cardinals 2018: A seven-round mock draft
By Jim Koch
With this year’s NFL Draft now just around the corner, a look into the crystal ball for the Arizona Cardinals football club
It’s almost here, Arizona Cardinals fans. The annual event that piques our interest each and every year. The NFL Draft is now just days away.
Most of the talk, once again, has centered around the quarterback position. Will general manager Steve Keim finally pull the trigger on a signal-caller who will take the franchise into the future? Will he even get the opportunity to do so, sitting at #15 in the first round?
Those questions will be answered soon enough. In the meantime, many of you are probably getting sick of the endless amount of mock drafts being crafted. Apologies to you readers, but here’s one more.
Round one (15)- The Cardinals go with wide receiver Calvin Ridley, with the hopes that he’ll be a suitable heir-apparent for Larry Fitzgerald. The Alabama junior is a perfect mix of size (6’0″, 192) and speed, who tallied 224 receptions, 2,781 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns in three collegiate campaigns.
Round two (47)- Keim addresses the team’s number-two cornerback hole next, nabbing LSU’s Donte Jackson to line up opposite Patrick Peterson. Despite the fact that he’s a bit undersized (5’10”, 175), Jackson’s 4.35 time in the 40 is what draws Arizona to the junior.
Round three (79)- The Cards hosted pass rushers Connor Barwin and Benson Mayowa this past week, but decide to wait for the draft and grab defensive end Duke Ejiofor. The Wake Forest Demon Deacon totalled 23.5 sacks in his four years with the school.
Round three (97)- Tight end Dalton Schultz is added as insurance for Jermaine Gresham’s torn Achilles tendon, and Troy Niklas’ free agent departure. The Stanford Cardinal is a tad undersized for his position (6’5″, 248), but is nevertheless a willing blocker and sure-handed pass-catcher.
Round four (134)- Keim snatches another player from Nick Saban’s Alabama squad, selecting Bo Scarborough to be David Johnson’s understudy. The running back has good size (6’1″, 237) and a nose for the end zone (20 career touchdowns), but lacks Johnson’s breakaway speed.
Round five (152)- Taking into consideration the fact that guard Mike Iupati and center A.Q. Shipley are now in their 30’s, the Cardinals draft UCLA’s Scott Quessenberry. The 6’3″, 314 pounder can play at both spots, so the redshirt senior could eventually take over for one of them.
Round six (182)- Keim finally takes a flier on a passer, landing Kurt Benkert late. The Virginia Cavalier is drafted to battle Brandon Doughty and Alex Torgersen for clipboard duty, with an outside chance of becoming more.
Round seven (254)- Arizona doubles up at the wide receiver spot, grabbing the gritty Braxton Berrios three picks before the draft ends. The Miami Hurricane is a Wes Welker clone, who’s professional existence will be spent in the slot.