Arizona Cardinals: 4-round NFC West mock draft 1.0

Arizona Cardinals

Call me stubborn for mocking Bosa number one, but until Josh Rosen is traded, I’m not going to give in to the Kyler Murray-Cardinals hype — no matter how strong the rumors are. Nick Bosa has been the consensus number one pick for the good part of a year now. He’s one of the best prospects in recent memory at the valuable edge rusher position.

Adding Bosa to a defense that already has Chandler Jones, Jordan Hicks, and Terrell Suggs just sounds too good for the Cardinals. I believe Bosa is a can’t miss prospect. He has the drive, athletisism, skill-set, and unique bloodline to be in Canton years from now. Do the Cardinals really want that to fall to a division rival?

This was tough because unless an elite prospect falls, I don’t think the Cardinals could turn down drafting an offensive lineman or wide receiver at this spot. Previously, I’ve chosen between receiver and offensive line, this time we go with offensive line and get a player I believe could start day one.

Lindstrom is as pro-ready as they get when it comes to interior offensive linemen in this class. He’s athletic, has a good frame at 6-4, 308-pounds, and has a well-developed game. Per Pro Football Focus, Lindstrom allowed just 7.0 sacks during his entire Boston College career and ranks second in pass-blocking efficiency with an outstanding 99.5 grade. The Arizona Cardinals have previously shown interest in him, which is obvious when factoring in their two 50+ sacks allowed seasons in a row.

The brother of 2018 rookie standout Calvin Ridley, Riley has the chance to join his kin as a high draft pick in the 2019 draft — albeit, not in the first-round. While this years draft class is deep with talent, the Cardinals should be in a hurry to add to their receiving core that lacks depth; Ridley could do just that.

The Georgia product has solid size at 6-1, 199-lbs and is a rather fluid athlete. While his combine results didn’t do too much to help him (4.58 second 40-yard-dash), his tape should. Ridley has little issues creating seperation off the snap, is a natural pass-catcher, and is a refined route-runner. Realistically, Ridley could go in either of the first four rounds, but his lack of skills after the catch could help him fall to 65.

I’d be pretty surprised if Saunders makes it out of the first three rounds, but his 6-foot stature and small-school status could do just that. If he does find himself at the top of the fourth, I wouldn’t expect him to be there for very long.

Saunders is a freak athlete for his 320-pound frame and it shows on the playing field. While he might be best suited to be a 4-3 1-technique tackle, he has the versatile game to be a chess-piece along the defensive interior. The Western Illinois product is a physical specimen to be reckoned with but with the technique to get by the most fleet-footed of offensive linemen.