Raising Zona
FanSided

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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EUGENE, OR – OCTOBER 13: Wide receiver Dillon Mitchell #13 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter of the game against the Washington Huskies at Autzen Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR – OCTOBER 13: Wide receiver Dillon Mitchell #13 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter of the game against the Washington Huskies at Autzen Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

Round 6

A big-time recruit with recent production and a solid, yet mass-lacking frame (6-foot-1, 197-pounds) is what you look for at wide receiver. He tested well at the combine running a 4.46 second 40-yard-dash, 122-inch broad jump, and 36.5-inch vertical. But, Mitchell falls to the top of the sixth round for a few reasons.

He was inconsistent for a large part of his Oregon career and dropped 11 passes, per Pro Football Focus. His inability to beat better-pressing cornerbacks could have a large part of that, so could his reported off the field and alleged work ethic issues. His limited route-tree is also an issue.

But that doesn’t mean Mitchell isn’t a bad value at the top of the sixth. He has a large catch radius, is a physical route-runner, is a natural athlete, and could best be billed as a ‘natural receiver.’ In 2018 he caught 75 passes for 1,184 yards and ten touchdowns and worked both inside and out. If Mitchell could develop his game into a more consistent one, he’d be a nice pairing with N’Keal Harry, who I mock drafted to the desert earlier.

A Phoenix, Arizona native, Jalen Jelks failed to find consistent production at Oregon as he was improperly used an interior defensive lineman rather than his natural position, edge rusher. But he did show potential in Duck-Town when playing on the edge.

Although he looked to be a quick riser in the draft after a monster Junior season highlighted by 7.0 sacks, his senior year was less flashy. But, he did show a lot in his last season. His 6-foot-5, 253-pound frame come in handy in run-support off the edge and it showed as he set the edge well in college. His Pro Football Focus run-stop rate of 11.7% ranks 11th in the class.

But don’t expect for him to find a niche in the NFL as an edge-setter… yet. His frame will need to have some weight added to it, which showed against bigger and better edge blockers. However, his interior defensive lineman history coupled with good length (34-5/8-inch-arms) may help him breakout as a rotational pass-rusher. He may have to a red-shirt year to bulk up, but if he does that and adds some finesse, he could be an excellent edge defender.

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