“With the 16th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select … ”
Not so fast, my friend, according to a national draft analyst.
ESPN’s Matt Miller suggests the Cardinals could make moves before No. 16.
“With only six selections right now, don’t be surprised if the Cardinals trade back in Round 1 to get more picks,” Miller wrote.
“When they do pick, we’ve been told by multiple scouts that the Cardinals will likely go defense early.”
Miller reported that an NFC scout said: “They have to get a difference-maker on defense.”
What the Cardinals need is a team desperately, or longingly, looking to move up to 16 and willing to pay for that draft slot. What usually happens is that a team’s must-have player is still on the board at 16 and the wheeling and dealing begins.
If so, the Cardinals’ draft plot just seriously thickened.
Heavy draft for edge rushers
If the Cardinals are indeed looking to improve their defense, this year’s draft is loaded with edge rushers. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, in his comprehensive “The Beast” predraft report, ranked 13 edge rushers in his top 64 prospects. Last year, Brugler had only six edge rushers in his top 64.
Eight defensive tackles are listed among Brugler’s top 68.
There is defensive talent to be had, including Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr., who has been linked to Arizona in mock drafts at 16.
With anywhere from two to possibly four or five quarterbacks going in the first round, plus two running backs likely taken in the top 15, the Cardinals could have plenty of room to trade down and still land a significant edge rusher or defensive tackle.
Plus, every team likes getting more draft capital with more selections, which is the other goal the Cardinals apparently covet.
New drafting strategy?
The NFC scout’s comment about the Cardinals wanting a “difference-maker” on defense goes against recent mock draft trends that have Arizona leaning toward more offense. Going into the offseason, the Cardinals were expected to pursue defensive free agents and follow up a defensive-heavy draft.
But the current thinking is that the Cardinals improved their defensive line through free agency so they would or could look to strengthen their offensive line or add a speedy weapon at wide receiver.
In Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft, he has the Cardinals taking Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden at 16 and Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Booker in the second round at 47.
Sports Illustrated reported that 2025 is the first time since the common draft era began with the 1970 AFL-NFL merger that no team had traded their first-round pick going into the start of the new league year (March 13).
The Cardinals could be the team to change that.