2020 Mock Drafts have the Arizona Cardinals going in a variety of directions
By Steve Rivera
The Arizona Cardinals have many directions they can go when the 2020 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday night.
If mock drafts prove to be accurate, the Arizona Cardinals are most likely to draft an offensive lineman versus a wide receiver when the 2020 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday night. The league, preparing for a first of its kind virtual draft, will be a welcome sight for sports fans, not just NFL loyalists, on April 23.
As for who Arizona selects, well, it’s been hard to find a mock that doesn’t have the Cardinals selecting Tristan Wirfs, or any O-lineman, for that matter. Wirfs, who may be the best college player at that position in the first round, looks to be a near slam dunk by many who have hypothesized how the first round may roll out. Of interest, in a draft deep and rich with wide receivers, the Cardinals are interpreted to be all set at that position.
Perhaps they are, but some options will get an equally long look as the top tier players available in the first round trend towards pass-catchers. A trade, which some see as equally smart, could be a reasonable scenario. The Cardinals would LOVE to add a second-round pick, meaning if the price is right, trading down might be a strong possibility.
However, a few under the radar mock drafts suggest a defensive player could find its way to Arizona with the eighth pick. While that seems a long-shot, a selection like that would be seen as somewhat surprising, given that offense has been the focus of where the Cardinals would place their emphasis at that position in the first round.
Some names to keep an eye on besides Wirfs, is Jedrick Wills Jr., OT – Alabama, K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE – LSU, Isaiah Simmons, LB – Clemson, CeeDee Lamb, WR – Oklahoma, and Jerry Jeudy, WR – Alabama.
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In a year where the Cardinals seemed poised to break out, what they do in the first round is key. GM Steve Keim has a lot of possibilities where he could go, and with the eighth pick, quality isn’t a question. If he gets it right and follows it up with smart selections in the later rounds, Arizona could become a contender sooner than many thought.