2019 NFL Draft: Arizona Cardinals 7-round mock draft 2.0

Round 6

Sometimes, hen you need receivers as much as the Arizona Cardinals do, you have to double dip. That’s precisely what I did here with the selection of Gary Jennings — a tall, field-stretcher formerly for the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Jennings almost reminds me of Pierre Garcon in that he’s a jack of all trades type of receiver with some speed to boot. Whether you want him to return kicks or put him in the slot, Jennings has seemingly done it effectively. He’s not a world-beating route-runner due to average burst, but his route-tree isn’t slacking. He might not be an explosive athlete, but he makes up for it with physicality and an unrelenting style of play.

While the Arizona Cardinals could take another shot at adding to the defense here, adding a guy like Jennings should be a plus. Like Harmon, he’s a receiver ready to play day-one — a bonus for the Cardinals.

After the addition of Jordan Hicks in free agency, the linebacking core is less of a priority in this mock draft than in others. But, that doesn’t mean we should skip over the position as a whole. While I believe Hicks can be great in the desert, the team will surely look for depth behind the oft-injured playmaker.

Gilbert reminds me of an ideal version of Deone Bucannon in the same ‘money backer’ role. He’s not the biggest name, nor was he invited to combine but he certainly has a place within the NFL. His niche in the league should be very similar to his role at Akron, which is covering tight ends and running backs at a high level — a position more important in the NFL than it ever was.

However, there is a reason why Gilbert should be available in the sixth. He needs to add some weight to his 6-1, 225-pound frame and it shows while in run-support. But, Gilbert still has the upside to be a starter in the NFL after a couple of seasons developing.