Cardinals can consider trading back during first round of the 2022 NFL Draft

The Arizona Cardinals could acquire an extra draft pick or two by moving down during the first round of this month’s 2022 NFL Draft.

Over the past nine years, general manager Steve Keim has struggled to supply the Arizona Cardinals with an adequate amount of draft-day contributors.

Less than three weeks from now, the two-time NFL Executive of the Year will have another go at it for the Cards. The first round of the 2022 NFL Draft will take place on April 28th, but do any fans truly believe that Keim will acquire an impact player with the 23rd-overall choice?

Keim’s inability to consistently build the squad with collegiate talent has forced the organization to trade away a plethora of picks. Arizona has eight selections to utilize during the three-day event, but five of those are late-rounders.

Going with the theory that there’s strength in numbers, should the Cardinals attempt to accumulate more draft capital by trading down during the opening round? Moving back five or six spots could quite possibly fetch the team an additional second or third-round choice. Quite frankly, the dropoff in quality that would occur in orchestrating such a move would be negligible at best.

Arizona Cardinals can move down from pick No. 23 and still land a solid prospect

One prospect who may still be around late in the first round is Andrew Booth Jr., a cornerback out of Clemson University. The 6-foot, 195-pounder totaled 64 tackles, five interceptions, and nine pass breakups over the last two campaigns for the Tigers.

Skyy Moore is an intriguing wide receiver out of Western Michigan University who enjoyed a breakout season for the Broncos last fall. In the 12 matchups he appeared in, the 5-foot-10, 195-pounder hauled in 95 passes for 1,292 yards and 10 scores.

Another youngster who could still be on the board during the latter part of round 1 is Boye Mafe, an edge-rusher out of the University of Minnesota. The 6-foot-4, 265-pounder registered 87 tackles and 15 sacks in the 59 games he suited up for the Golden Gophers.

One last possibility in this scenario is Kenyon Green, an offensive lineman out of Texas A&M University. Cards left guard Justin Pugh could be in his last year with the franchise, and the 6-foot-4, 325-pound Green could be drafted to replace the veteran in 2023.

Of course, sliding back in the first round would require Arizona to find a trade partner who’s looking to move up. When you consider the positives that could come from making this type of move, perhaps it would be smart for Keim to keep the phone lines open during the next couple of weeks.