Latest 2020 mock draft for the Arizona Cardinals

With the NFL Draft now just a month away, here’s another look at who the Arizona Cardinals could select with their six picks

Over the past couple of weeks, things have changed drastically for the Arizona Cardinals. After acquiring Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, and some very capable free agent defenders as well, the club’s focus should now shift to the NFL Draft. The Cards have just six selections this year, so general manager Steve Keim and company need to do their best to make every choice count.

The acquisition of Hopkins, and the re-signing of right tackle Marcus Gilbert this past week, have added some intrigue to what the Cardinals will do with their first-round pick. Now that wideout and offensive tackle are no longer a pressing need, the organization could go in a completely different direction. Perhaps a prospect on the defensive side of the ball will be considered by Arizona with the eighth-overall selection.

Keim and the Cards would likely be thrilled if cornerback Jeff Okudah or linebacker Isaiah Simmons were available at that spot. But if both are off of the board, Auburn’s Derrick Brown would be an outstanding alternative. The defensive tackle was both a Unanimous All-American and First-team All-SEC nominee following the 2019 campaign.

After forfeiting their second-round choice in the trade for Hopkins, the Cardinals won’t get to select again until the third round. The University of Dayton’s Adam Trautman would be yet another fantastic toy for head coach Kliff Kingsbury to utilize in his “Air Raid” offense. The tight end hauled in 70 passes for 916 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior for the Flyers last season.

With the first of their two fourth-round picks, Keim lands a possible future replacement for either Justin Pugh or J.R. Sweezy. Based on what he accomplished at LSU, Damien Lewis could turn out to be well worth the investment. The 6’3, 332 pound guard was voted First-team All-American and Second-team All-SEC last year.

Later on in the fourth round, Arizona adds a young edge rusher to coordinator Vance Joseph‘s unit. In his three campaigns at Syracuse University, Alton Robinson racked up 115 tackles and 19 sacks for the school. The 6’4, 260 pounder was a Second-team All-ACC selection as a junior in 2018.

The Cards sent their fifth-rounder to the Miami Dolphins for running back Kenyan Drake last October, so their next choice is in the sixth round. With a pick he received from the New England Patriots for offensive tackle Korey Cunningham, Keim brings Michigan State’s Joe Bachie into the fold. The inside linebacker tallied 285 tackles, seven sacks and 11 passes defensed over the past four years for the Spartans.

The Cardinals final selection of the draft takes place in the seventh round. Jalen Elliott, a safety out of the University of Notre Dame, comes to the desert. The 6’0, 210 pounder registered 172 tackles, six picks and 11 pass breakups in 44 appearances for the Fighting Irish.