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Arizona Cardinals 7-round mock draft, PAC-12 only edition

By Avery Duncan

BOULDER, CO - OCTOBER 05: The Colorado Golden Buffalo Marching Band performs prior to facing the Oregon Ducks at Folsom Field on October 5, 2013 in Boulder, Colorado. The Ducks defeated the Buffs 57-16. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
BOULDER, CO - OCTOBER 05: The Colorado Golden Buffalo Marching Band performs prior to facing the Oregon Ducks at Folsom Field on October 5, 2013 in Boulder, Colorado. The Ducks defeated the Buffs 57-16. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /
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BOISE, ID – SEPTEMBER 10: Offensive lineman Andre Dillard #60 of the Washington State Cougars battles defensive end Jabril Frazier #8 of the Boise State Broncos during second half action on September 10, 2016 at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won the game 31-28. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID – SEPTEMBER 10: Offensive lineman Andre Dillard #60 of the Washington State Cougars battles defensive end Jabril Frazier #8 of the Boise State Broncos during second half action on September 10, 2016 at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won the game 31-28. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images) /

Round 1

This selection shows just how weak the top of this year’s PAC-12 class is. This pick came down to Andre Dillard, Washington cornerback Byron Murphy, or Arizona State wide receiver N’Keal Harry  — all expected to be near first-round picks, but not near the talent of the No. 1 overall pick.

However, Dillard would fill a significant team need for the Arizona Cardinals and has been dubbed by many to be the most pro-ready pass protector in the 2019 draft. Measuring in at 6-foot-5 and 315-pounds with decent length (33.5-inch-arms), Dillard fits the bill of an NFL left tackle; a need for the Cardinals as oft-injured D.J. Humphries has just one year left of his rookie deal.

Dillard tested well at the combine too. His results include a 4.96 second 40-yard-dash, 24 225-pound bench-press reps, 29-inch vertical, 118-inch broad jump, and 7.44-second three-cone-drill — all solid numbers for the massive tackle. Most importantly, Dillard showed his best work in his final season up in Washington.

Per Pro Football Focus, Dillard allowed just one sack in 722 pass-snaps. His pass-blocking efficiency ranks sixth in the class for tackles as well with a 98.9 grade, and he allowed an outside pressure once in every 106.9 snaps, good for 12th in the class.

While some would like to see Dillard improve his run-mauling ability and add deeper pass-sets, it’s hard not to see his strengths working within Kliff Kingsbury’s offensive scheme, which stems from Washington State’s Mike Leach Air Raid. Although this pick would never happen at No. 1 overall, if, Dillard were to somehow land in Arizona, fans should be happy knowing they got their pass protector of the future.

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