As we approach draft night, it’s looking like the Arizona Cardinals might make a major mistake with the 16th pick.
Momentum seems to be building for the Arizona Cardinals to draft Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron in the first round. The pick would indicate a confused sense of direction in Arizona’s front office.
Arizona Cardinals tabbed as Jahdae Barron landing spot
NFL insiders are often one step ahead of fan bases when it comes to predicting draft picks. One of the most informed insiders is ESPN’s Peter Schrager.
In his recent (and only) mock draft, Schrager has the Cardinals selecting Jahdae Barron with the 16th pick. Schrager says, “Remember: Head coach Jonathan Gannon is a defensive backs coach by trade. This one makes a lot of sense.”
Schrager isn’t alone in this prediction. Outlets including The 33rd team, CBS Sports, and Fox Sports have all released recent mock drafts with Arizona taking Barron.
The pick, frankly, would be baffling.
Let me be clear: Jahdae Barron is a fantastic prospect. His instincts and ball skills give him a high floor in the NFL. But he’s far too similar to Garrett Williams for this pick to make sense.
Garrett Williams exploded at the slot corner position last season, becoming one of the top nickels in the league. He is arguably Monti Ossenfort’s best draft pick so far. Williams should hold down the slot corner position for the next seven years, assuming continued health.
Jahdae Barron is at his best in the same position. While Barron played a significant amount of snaps on the outside at Texas, his size and relative lack of fluidity indicate that he will stick at nickel in the NFL. Barron could play on the outside or even at safety. He could likely start for the Cardinals at either position. But he doesn’t show enough at those spots to be drafted in the middle of the first round.
The Arizona Cardinals would be much better off drafting Michigan cornerback Will Johnson. Johnson is a prototypical outside corner with the quick twitch and instincts to thrive in Jonathan Gannon’s zone coverage system.
Johnson’s medical issues could cause him to fall in the draft, but he is one of the most talented prospects in the class. The Cardinals can take advantage of his slide and draft a player who would rarely be available in the middle of the first round.
Both Barron and Johnson are excellent players, but only Johnson fits the Cardinals current roster.