Cardinals could try to strike gold with a late-round corner in 2022

The Arizona Cardinals front office could look to find a cover guy with one or more of the organization’s late-round selections in the 2022 NFL Draft.

We’re just five months away from the 2022 regular-season opener, and the Arizona Cardinals are looking fairly ordinary at the cornerback spot.

The Cards signed Jeff Gladney last month, a former Minnesota Vikings corner who hasn’t played in two years. Byron Murphy and Marco Wilson are set to return, but both defenders struggled a bit towards the end of the 2021 campaign.

A little less than two weeks from now, Arizona’s front office will attempt to replenish the roster during the 2022 NFL Draft. It seems to be a foregone conclusion that general manager Steve Keim will use at least one, if not more, of the club’s selections on a cover guy. An early-round pick will almost certainly be used on the position, but there are intriguing cornerbacks who could still be on the board during the latter stages of the draft as well.

Arizona Cardinals could benefit from a draft that’s loaded with viable corners

Baylor University’s Kalon Barnes is an interesting prospect who could fall to the Cardinals in either the sixth or seventh round. In 35 collegiate appearances, the 6-foot,186-pounder totaled 69 tackles, three interceptions, and 14 pass breakups for the Bears.

While Ja’Quan McMillian may not have impressive size (5-foot-10,183 pounds), the East Carolina University defensive back amassed some eye-popping numbers during his time at the school. In the 33 games he suited up for, McMillian racked up 127 tackles,12 picks, and 28 pass breakups for the Pirates.

The University of Missouri’s Akayleb Evans is also a corner who the Cards could consider

towards the conclusion of the draft. The 6-foot-2,188 pounder registered 28 tackles, an interception, and six pass breakups for the Tigers after transferring from the University of Tulsa in June of ’21.

Alontae Taylor is a talented 6-foot,193-pounder out of the University of Tennessee. In the 44 matchups he appeared in, Taylor was credited 162 tackles, four picks, and 15 pass breakups for the Volunteers.